WORLD DAY OF THE OLDER PERSONS (1st October 2023)
Theme 2023: Fulfilling the promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations
MY REQUEST FOR A GLOBAL CALL TO HIGHLIGHT THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF OLDER PERSONS IN TERMS OF THEIR RIGHTS AND REPORTING ABUSES
The world is rapidly aging. In the coming decades, say 2050, the number of people who are 65 years of age or older is expected to be more than double. A longer life brings more opportunities for people to pursue their goals and contribute to their families, communities, and society as a whole. But these opportunities depend heavily on one factor: health.
Rapid growth in the number of older people highlights the significance of promoting lasting health and ensuring that all older people fully enjoy their fundamental freedoms and human rights. The international day this year highlights the importance of protecting rights for older persons as well as sharing and learning from intergenerational views for the protection of global human rights.
Age is a sign of good development. People are living longer because of better health care, nutrition, sanitation, education, and economic well-being. Although an aging world poses social and economic challenges, the right set of policies can equip individuals, families, and societies to address these challenges and reap the benefits later.
UNFPA, WHO, and UN are doing wonderful jobs to harness the affairs of our older generations, and we must appreciate them for it. Older people are an asset for their skills, talents, experiences, perspectives, and resilience, but yet they often lack autonomy and the power to make decisions and face neglect and abuse due to stigma and harmful social norms that often push older people to the sidelines of society.
Older women make many contributions to their families, communities, and societies, including as caretakers of the next generation of children, but they face daily inequalities such as gender discrimination and poverty due to gender biases.
Women also tend to live longer than men and may experience deepening poverty as they age, as well as isolation and social exclusion. Let us support all integrated approaches to mental and physical health care for older people, including through the use of aging centers, which provide easier access to services as well as more opportunities to socialize.
Also Read: Malnutrition: Funding gaps must be addressed — UNICEF to FG
Let us see this population as a vital part of economies and societies, spend time with our elderly loved ones, start family history projects with them, and volunteer for projects that will benefit elderly persons. Elderly people should not be discounted in our society.
We all have a part to play in making our community more age-friendly.
Let’s Take Action! Thanks
Dr Chuks is from Abia State. He is a distinguished graduate of the University of Port Harcourt Medical School, and currently serves as a Medical Officer at the Government House Clinic located in Asaba, Delta State. You can contact him for both online and physical consultations.
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