NEWS: Good Government Policies will make Old People Remain Relevant in a Society

 By Abubakar Mohammed

The World Health Organization (WHO) has charged governments at all levels to ensure policies that will enable older people continue to contribute their quota to the society and to live healthy lives.
This was contained in a statement to mark this Year’s International Day of Older Persons on October 1st. The statement added that old people the world over are living longer but not in healthy live, stressing that the number of people over the age of 60 is expected to double by 2050 hence the need for radical societal change.

In his message to mark the 25th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said older persons are assets to the society so governments at all level need to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable so that no one regardless of age is left behind.

Dr. John Beard, WHO Director of the Department of Ageing and life course said, while some older people may indeed be experiencing both longer and healthier lives, the people are likely to have come from more advantaged segment of society.

Women, according to the report, comprise the majority of older people, provide much of the family care for those who can no longer care for themselves.

In Adamawa State, the day was marked by the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency at their head office located at Kofare Industrial Layout, Yola with a briefing by the representative of the Executive Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Dauda Belel. The Representative of the Executive Chairman, Dr. Martin Bimba addressed staff and partners of the Agency where he canvassed for support to the WHO commitment.