Mrs Olubunmi Sodade, Executive Director, Nigerian Association of Retired People (NARP50+) has appealed to the three tiers of government to provide access to socialised healthcare for 70 year-olds and above.
Sodade made the appeal on the side lines of the Elders -at-Risk Programme of the association on Wednesday, in Lagos.
Data from the Ministry of Health showed that the elderly and retirees of 60 years and above, constituted six to seven per cent or 15 million of Nigeria’s population.
She said that the high cost of healthcare services and drugs was a burden to majority of the elderly.
According to her, many depended solely on pension allowance, which is barely enough to meet their basic household needs.
“Many of the elderly have pre-existing medical conditions requiring regular medications,’’ she said.
She noted that due to these medical conditions, most Health Management Organisations (HMOs) hardly have insurance schemes to cater to these age groups.
“This makes them vulnerable. Many elderly people are lonely, neglected and impoverished. We need to be considerate with their welfare,” she said.
Sodade, however, commended the Federal Government for its plan to provide health insurance for retirees and the elderly.
She appealed to the committee in-charge of the task to expedite action and also called for effective implementation of the plan, when approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
On the Elders-at-Risk Programme, the NARP50+ leader said that the association provided food support to 120 elderly persons from seven wards in the Yaba Local Government.
She said that the association also provided medical check-ups, sensitised the elderly on medications, how to keep fit in old age, foods to abstain from and other tips for healthy living.
“We engaged a fitness coach, who put the elderly through some exercises they can adopt daily in their homes. They gently moved their bodies as the music played softly.
“We also had someone from First Bank Insurance to sensitise them about life insurance policy and its benefits, annuities and other life-plan packages available for the elderly in case of eventualities,” she said.
Sodade advised the elderly to avoid isolation, by interacting with people in their neighbourhood, church, mosque or social gathering, to prevent loneliness and depression. (NAN)
