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Nigeria: FG Admits Gaps in Provision of Health, Social Needs for Older Persons
By Derrick Bangura
Nigeria’s Federal Government has admitted that despite the numbers of Nigerians with age 60 years and above standing at 14.8 million, there is increasing gaps in the provision of health and social needs of older persons, both at the national and subnational levels.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day national stakeholders workshop on integrated care of older persons with theme: “Realigning and Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Delivery of Integrated Care for Older Persons,” the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hadiza Sadiya Umar-Farouq noted that: “There are currently over 14.8 million Nigerians, who are 60 years and above according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NLSS 2018-2019 NBS), with the rapidly increasing proportion and absolute numbers of older persons in Nigeria, despite the country’s youthful population, there are increasing gaps in the provision. Of health and social needs of older persons, both at the national and subnational levels.
The Minister said the signing of the National Senior Citizens bill into law , the approval of the National Policy on Ageing and the inauguration of the board of the National Senior Citizens Centre by the president laid the legal and institutional frameworks to improve the effective delivery of health and social care for older people.
Umar-Farouq who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Humanitarian Affairs, Alhaji Musa Bungudu said with the objective of the two-day national workshop to assess the status of inclusion of older persons in primary care services and to consider and strategize ways of realigning and strengthening institutional capacities to deliver integrated care for older persons, she said she was optimistic that the outcome document from what promises to be very stimulating technical deliberations, will usher a new dawn in accessible, appropriate primary health care for older persons.
The National Senior Citizens Centre, speaking on the workshop which it organised with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the World Health Organisation (WHO), lamented the poor understanding of ageing issues among relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies of government.
The Director General of the Centre, Dr. Emem Omokaro also lamented that older persons themselves, their family members and their communities lack adequate knowledge of ageing issues.
She said this has further compounded the challenges facing senior citizens in the country.
Omokaro, which identified some of these challenges to include, poverty, poor health, lack of access to food, shelter, water and sanitation among others, stated that 70 percent of the total population of older persons in the country who are in rural communities are mostly affected by these challenges.
She said the poor understanding has affected the inclusiveness of older persons in development and social services plans.
She said, “There are 14.8 million older persons living in Nigeria. 70 percent of them residing in rural areas. They have particular challenges , COVID-19 exposed these vulnerabilities and the fragility of existing systems older people are disproportionately impacted by the burden of poverty, poor health, disability, social isolation and exclusion , violence, lack of access to basic resources like food, shelter , water and sanitation among others. Such burdens are compounded when they follow a life course of poverty.
“The bedrock of these challenges is the poor understanding of ageing issues across the relevant sectors (MDAs) that have mandates concerning older persons as well as amongst the older persons themselves, their family members and their communities. This gap hinders age-centered service delivery and inclusiveness of older persons in development and social services plans.”
The objectives of the workshop are: to strengthen synergies for delivering care for the older persons; to secure commitment and support from Executive Secretaries/Chairmen/Permanent Secretary of State Primary Health Boards/Agencies for the establishment of Units for the care of older persons; to strategize on strengthening institutional capacity for care of Older Persons within the PHC system by leveraging on existing interventions (WDC, CHIPS, Volunteers, NEMCHIC/SEMCHICs, among others.
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday arrived in Katsina to receive the remains of the former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London on Sunday at the age of 82.
Just hours before the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, heartfelt tributes have continued to pour in from beneficiaries of his many charitable deeds, with many describing him as a man who never turned his back on the needy.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, Aminu Daura, a respected community elder, recalled how Buhari consistently provided foodstuffs during Ramadan for families, friends, widows, and orphans in his hometown.
“He never made noise about it, but many homes had food on their tables during fasting period because of him,” Daura said.
Abdullahi Sani, a physically-challenged man who received a tricycle from the Buhari Foundation in 2021, was overcome with emotion while speaking to NAN.
“I can move around and feed my family today because of Baba Buhari. I pray to Allah to reward him for giving hope to people like me,” he said, in tears.
Hajiya Fatima Yahaya, another resident, remembered Buhari’s acts of kindness during festive seasons.
“Even after he left office, his aides ensured that the usual support still reached us every year. He always remember his people,” she said, referring to his distribution of Sallah rams and food items to indigent families during Eid celebrations.
Other residents of Daura also shared memories of how the late former president quietly paid school fees and medical bills for struggling families, actions rarely publicized.
“Some of us benefited from his silent interventions. He was a true father and a great figure in the society,” said Ali Saidu.
On Monday night, Imams across various mosques in Daura held special Qur’anic recitations, praying for the forgiveness of Buhari’s sins and his eternal peace.
The Chief Imam of Daura Central Mosque, Sheikh Musa Kofar Barau, described Buhari as a humble leader whose legacy of service and compassion would remain alive in the hearts of the people.
Buhari is scheduled to be buried later on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in line with Islamic rites. The community is bracing to welcome thousands of mourners from across Nigeria and beyond.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco has extended heartfelt condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the family of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, and the entire Nigerian people following Buhari’s death.
In a message of sympathy, the Moroccan monarch described the passing of the former Nigerian leader as a “sad occurrence,” expressing deep sorrow over the loss.
King Mohammed VI hailed Buhari as “an illustrious leader who worked untiringly to serve his country’s best interests and lead his people toward further progress and prosperity.”
He added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the bereaved. I share your grief and want you to know how much I appreciated the working sessions I had with the deceased.”
Reflecting on their bilateral engagements, the king noted that his collaboration with Buhari led to the launch of promising development projects, “ushering a new era grounded in friendship and close cooperation between our two sister nations.”
Tinubu arrives Katsina to receive Buhari’s body for burial
“He Never Turned His Back on the Needy” — Tributes Pour In Ahead of Buhari’s Burial
King Mohammed VI Mourns Buhari, Praises Legacy of Nigeria’s Former Leader
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