The Oyo State Government has distributed cash and food items to over 1,000 elderly residents of the state, restating its commitment to catering to the welfare of the elderly in the society.
This was as it declared its readiness to designate one primary health care centre in every local government area of the state for the care of elderly people.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, stated this on Monday, at an event organised in commemoration of the International Day for the Elderly, held at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat Ibadan.
She noted that the Governor Makinde-led government has been people-centric by putting in place several interventions that are aimed at making life more meaningful for all segments of the society.
According to the commissioner, the state government will soon kick-start an elderly-friendly healthcare in nine local government areas, which will later be expanded to other councils before 2027.
The commissioner noted that the event, themed “ageing with dignity” was held to add value to the lives of the elderly demographic and to teach them on how to live a fulfilling life, free from health challenges, neglect and isolation.
She said: “This is a government that is people-centric. This government is putting in place interventions that are in the best interest of the people.
“In some communities, the elderly ones are being looked at with derision but the government of Governor Makinde is committed to leaving no one behind. My Ministry is responsible for the welfare of women, children, elderly and the physically-challenged ones.
“We consider our elderly ones as a valued source, because these are people who have lived their lives in the service of their families, children and society at large. We think it is very important for us to make sure that we support them in their old age.
“For this intervention, which is a commemorative event, we feel that instead of dancing, we should do something that will add value to the lives of our elderly demographic.
“We are hoping, by next year, to expand the scope so that we can onboard more elderly people. Also, we are working in collaboration with a number of NGOs and agencies that have competencies in the care of the elderly.
“We have put in place plans that are going to be sustainable even beyond the lifetime of this government. One of them is social welfare intervention and we are hoping to be able to take action next year such that the elderly will benefit from stipends once every two or three months.
“In addition to that, we are going to be designating one PHC as an elderly-friendly health care centre. And in the last discussion we had, we said it is better for us to scale our intervention so that we can monitor and measure the result.
“So, our plan is to deploy to the first nine local government areas and after six months, we re-assess and expand.
“The end game for us is that by the end of the timeline of this government in 2027, we would have been able to extend the programme to all the local government areas.
“For this programme, we projected and prepared for 1,000 participants but you will agree with me that those who came here today are over 2,000.”
Also speaking, the guest lecturer and Nutritionist, Dr Tunde Ajobo, appreciated the Makinde-led administration for implementing policies that are friendly to the aged, including the prompt payment of pensions and gratuities, among others.
He equally charged members of the society to take care of their old ones so that they can enjoy their old age, just as he called on the government to organize sensitization programmes for the aged across wards and local government levels.
“Today is to commemorate the World Elders Day and that is what Oyo State is doing presently. The most important thing is that there is a need for us to really take care of our old ones and educate them on what to do.
“Most elderly people get to know about things to do in old age, which is not supposed to be. We are supposed to be preparing people for this age so that they will be aware of different things.
“Most of them think old age is for sickness. Old age is to be enjoyed and not endured. The understanding has to be there about the things they need to know before getting to that old age in life. Anybody who is 60 years old is an old person.
“Some of the things that happen in old age are that there is pronounced dehydration. If they don’t take enough water, it will affect them.
“If an elderly begins to skip meals, it’s another thing to actually look into. It will surely have a long term effect, because it can lead to nutrient deficiency. As one is ageing, his stomach gets compacted and not as wide as when we are at youth. Even if they are going to take a small meal, it must be adequate and nutritious.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank the Oyo State government because the pensioners are being paid as and when due but they need to be educated on what to spend their money on and their foods need to be based on what is locally available.”
In their separate remarks, co-chairman of the Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade and the member representing Ibadan North Constituency I in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Comforter Olajide, appreciated the Governor Makinde-led administration for its unwavering commitment to the people of the state across different age grades and social strata.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Olugbenga Jegede, who spoke to newsmen at the end of the event, commended the state government for organising the event, which he described as timely and a good one.
