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Nigeria Govt to


strengthen Healthcare, Rights for the aged-Health Minister



The Nigeria Government through its health ministers has reaffirm its commitment to improve the rights and quality of health care for elderly persons which enable them afford access to health care services, and the assurance of a right to quality health care services in the country.
This was stated by the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire at the opening of the African Regional High-Level Conference on Human Rights situation of Older Persons in Africa put together by the ECOWAS Parliament and the Nigerian National Commission of Human Rights, held in Abuja Nigeria.
Dr. Osagie said that the emerging social dynamics of the new age that is gradually reducing the once strong communal cohesion and social responsibility among new age youths, has been observed in more communities where an increasing population of elderly are left unattended or in some cases abandoned because their children and immediate family are busy with their own lives or have left their communities for greener pastures.
He added that according to the National Population Commission, the estimated number of persons over 60 years and above in the country has increased from initial 6,984,047 representing 4.98 percent of the population to 15 million in 2019, representing 7.5 percent of today's estimated 200 million population, which is about the population of some countries.
Osagie continued that “It is estimated that thousands of elderly who could still live healthy productive lives unfortunately die yearly from preventable or controllable chronic non-communicable diseases;
“It is as a result of this increase that our commitment to health and social rights for the elderly will be key to changing the game in our shoulder” he said.
He said that the commitment of the government through the health Ministry is to be articulated through the establishment of geriatric centres at tertiary health institutions for clinical care and research, training health care workforce in collaboration with technical support of international organizations, research on typical chronic non-communicable ailments of the aged, community based physical and mental health care and psycho-social support.
Furthermore, Dr. Osagie disclosed that the HEPIQC healthcare package project has been generated to address the health rights of the aging population.          
 “In this connection, the Nigeria government recently launched its National Policy framework on Healthcare for the aged, titled HEALTHY AGING, it is presumably the first such policy in sub-Saharan and Africa and meant to provide a model for healthcare to geriatric populations in our region;
“We will continue to improve coverage and quality of care for older persons affording access to health care services, and the assurance of a right to quality health care service will also address the poor health indices in our country and I am hopeful that the elderly will no longer be left unattended in old age due to lack of access to health and social care” He said.
He concluded by urging all stake holders and African countries to give adequate attention to the important aspect of social integration, mental health, psychosocial support and occupational therapy to carter comprehensively to the needs of the aging population, and give the elderly in Africa a life of comfort and peace.

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