Older persons challenged to fight for their space in the country

Siaya, June, 29, 2023

KNA by Philip Onyango

National and county governments have been called upon to come up with programs that will help cushion older persons from discrimination by the society.

A workshop on healthy aging that brought together elderly men and women from South East Alego ward in Siaya lamented that much as there were several programs targeting special interest groups such as children and the youth, older persons have been left at the mercy of fate, with few, if any, programs to address a myriad of challenges they face.

According to the elders, there was need for a one – stop hospital that will specifically dedicate services to the older persons, adding that the current situation where they are lumped together with young and agile makes them not get maximum attention.

“In the current system, an older person who seeks medical services in a health facility will be made to climb stairs for, says laboratory tests, walk to the other wind for X ray tests and many other inconveniences” lamented the elders who said that deliberate efforts must be made to appreciate them.

Addressing the occasion, Help Age international’s program officer, Lydia Makena Micheni called on the older persons to fight for their space in the community, adding that as citizens, they have to engage the government to have issues that affect them sorted.

She said that it was enough for the older persons to resign to fate as things that infringe on their rights thrive.

Micheni said that Help Age International, together with other partners has come up with a project that aims at strengthening the voices of the older persons.

“Through this project, we want to sensitize the community about aging and challenges that come along with it,” she said.

The program officer challenged the older persons to form self-help groups where they can come together and share experiences, network and learn from each other.

During the workshop, Fred Hollows Foundation program officer, Sharon Koech said that the organization was partnering with Siaya based Kespa and Globcom organizations in a program aimed at improving the older persons’ eye sights.

“We are committed to ensuring that the dignity of the older persons is maintained and their eye sight too,” said Koech.

She said that through the program, older persons in selected communities undergo screening for eyesight problems and those in need are referred for treatment while those who are vulnerable have their health insurance cover taken care of.

Among those who addressed the occasion were a program officer at Kespa non-governmental organization, Daniel Odipo and Siaya assistant county commissioner, Koyiet Kaleke.

Courtesy ; K. N. A