500 Aged persons at Yamoransa receive support

More than 500 elderly residents of Yamoransa in the Central Region aged 60 have received support as part of activities to commemorate the International Day of Older Persons.

The beneficiaries received food items including local rice, canned tomatoes, noodles and other essentials such as soap, clothing and perfume.

They were also screened for blood pressure, eye exams and enrollment in and renewal of the National Health Insurance subscription.

Stationery was also distributed to their children and grandchildren.

The programme was organised by the Department of Population and Health at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), in collaboration with the Los Abuelos Foundation, the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), the School of Optometry, UCC, the National Health Insurance Scheme and the Mfantsiman District Assembly.

The event, which was held on the theme “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being, Our Rights”, brought together community members, traditional leaders, academics and beneficiaries to highlight the importance of protecting the welfare and dignity of older persons.

The Executive Director of the Los Abuelos Foundation, Eunice Abban Afari, underscored the importance of promoting conversations and actions that ensure the well-being of the aged.

She described older people as pillars of development in every community, noting that society is responsible for honouring and caring for them.

She condemned the stigmatisation of the aged as witches, urging communities to embrace them as blessings.

“If God blesses us with long life, we will also get there one day. Instead of throwing our elderly away, we should see them as a gift to our families and society,” she said. 

Welfare

A partner of the foundation based in London and Jamaica, Solomon Davids, praised Ghana for its warm reception and policies towards the diaspora.

“I will also grow old one day, so putting smiles on the faces of these people makes me happy,” he said.

The Head of the Department of Population and Health, UCC, Prof. Kobina Esia-Donkoh, explained that with support from AFS, the Yale Alumni Service Corps, the Help Africa Foundation, the Deborah-Rose Foundation and the labour from the community, the department had established an ICT centre, resource centre, robotics laboratory, sewing and food and nutrition centre in the town.

The Guantoahen of Yamoransa, Nana Okofo Egyir VII, expressed gratitude to the foundation and the UCC for the gesture, describing it as a blessing.

A 71-year-old native of Yamoransa, Edward Acquah Baidoo, said the elderly often struggled to access healthcare and welcomed the initiative.

Another beneficiary, 63-year-old Mary Quansah, said the workload of daily life was often overwhelming and thanked the organisers for remembering them.

Source: graphic.com.gh