Government advised to take better care of its old people

ELDERLY people in the country have advised the government to provide human rights education and the principles of good governance for citizens to build a society that honours human rights especially to the elderly.

They have also advised relevant authorities to continue improving health services to the old people, especially availability of medicines. The advice was given by the Director of Elderly People Organisation based in Morogoro region, Mr Samson Msemembo in Dar es Salaam yesterday when he was talking to journalists on the oncoming World Human Rights Day marked on 10th December annually.

The press conference organised by the Help Age International that helps older people claim their rights, challenged discrimination and overcoming poverty so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives.

“Many elderly people live in poor and uncertainties of income due to lack of proper system and effective programmes that manage their access to basic humanitarian services,” said Mr Msemembo while reading his speech. He mentioned lack of special law enforcement that has been set to ensure the protection and welfare of the elderly is among the challenges that contribute to the loss of basic rights to the elderly.

Commenting at the same occasion, Mr Elisha Mwamkinga from Good Samaritans Social Services Trust Organisation congratulated the government for the policy of free health services to older people, but claimed that the implementation of the policy is still a challenge.

He said despite the policy directing public hospitals to provide free health services to older people, many hospitals face many challenges, including lack of medicine which forces older people to buy medicine from their own money.

One of the elders present, Gertrude Msangule congratulated the government for establishing the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) because it has helped the poor societies to improve their lives, especially in availability of social services.


“We request the government to improve the services provided by TASAF in order to benefit many people, especially the older people because currently there are only a few people who benefit from the service of the fund,” she said.