Abuja, August 23, 2024 – In a move to prioritize the welfare of Nigeria’s aging population, the Federal Government has set up specialized desks focused on senior citizen care in 40 different Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
According to Dr. Emem Omokaro, the Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Center (NSCC), the decision to spread these desks across multiple government bodies was driven by the recognition that no single agency can adequately address the diverse needs of the elderly.
“No one person, no single ministry can handle ageing alone because what they do is different statutorily,” Omokaro explained during an inaugural training program for Quality Assurance Assessors in the Geriatric Social Care Skills Sector.
The NSCC has established Memoranda of Understanding with key partners such as the Ministry of Health and the National Board for Technical Education to ensure a coordinated approach to senior care. This includes the development of a National Care Quality Assurance System, national policy guidelines on geriatric social care, and a minimum standard for the accreditation of care settings.
Omokaro stressed the importance of addressing the prevailing negative perceptions and discrimination faced by the elderly in various sectors. She emphasized that caring for older persons in line with global best practices is a specialized skill that requires dedicated training and certification.
“For anyone to have this skill you need to be trained, and for you to be trained, you need training providers,” Omokaro said, highlighting the ongoing efforts to equip healthcare professionals, including heads of geriatrics, consultant geriatricians, family physicians, and nurses, with the necessary certifications.
This strategic move by the Federal Government underscores its commitment to promoting the well-being and dignity of senior citizens in Nigeria. By establishing dedicated desks across multiple MDAs, the government aims to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by the country’s aging population.
