By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, Oct. 3, GNA – HelpAge Ghana, a community-based non-governmental organization, has commemorated this year’s International Day of Older Persons with senior citizens from various communities to raise awareness about challenges faced by the aged in Ghana.
The day is set aside to highlight the important contributions that older people make to society and to spread awareness about the importance of senior citizens in society and appreciate their contributions as well as the issues and challenges of ageing in today’s world.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and support system of Older Persons Worldwide.”
Madam Ethel Boakye, Executive Director of HelpAge Ghana, said older persons with the challenges associated with old age need intensive care and must always show love.
“They must live healthy lives by eating healthy food and taking care of their health.”
She said in Ghana very little attention is paid to the health of older persons, adding that with the passage of the Aged Bill, more attention would be given to them in all aspects of their lives, and they would feel much better in society.
“One thing we all forget is we are all growing old and anything we do for the older people today, we all come to enjoy in the near future when we also grow older.”
She urged policymakers to really pay attention to older people and individuals to show more love, companionship and care for older people and advised older people not to give up on life no matter the situation, saying “You are older and not over. So far as there is life, there is hope.”
Mrs Vivian Schandorf, the Health Post Nurse, at HelpAge Ghana, said the HelpAge day centre served as a centre that provided leisure and recreation for older persons.
“They come here on a daily basis to chat with each other, play indoor games, and sometimes receive free assistance for their prescribed medication.”
She said most of them preferred to come to the clinic at the centre to receive health care due to the long queues at the hospital which normally did not favour them.
“They need a facility where they would be attended to at short intervals.”
She said old age must not limit them from taking good care of themselves, saying “You must make yourself happy, go out, eat good food, take your medication, practice personal hygiene and visit each other.”
Mrs Schandorf urged family members to support and provide care for their older members, saying “We must not neglect them because they no longer have the strength to cater for themselves. They are our own and part of us, so we must take care of their everyday needs.”
HelpAge Ghana is a community-based NGO, a non-political, non-religious NGO, which serves as an advocate for the aged in Ghana by supporting them and promoting their interests. It has over 20 groups in various communities across Accra.
GNA