An Abuja based non-governmental organisation, Pause Old Peoples’ Home, over the weekend, provided free medical checkups, treatment and palliatives to elderly persons in Abuja.
Blueprint reports that majority of the beneficiary elderly persons at the parley were drawn from Mabushi community and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs’) camp in Durumi District.
Founder of the foundation and wife of the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Hauwa Umar Jubrin, while speaking to a section of the media at the event, stated that it was organised to show care and love to senior citizens and also take care of their basic health needs.
Jibrin said: “Since the COVID-19 outbreak, we have been imagining how their lives would be because, ordinarily, these are people that are vulnerable and for the fact that their lives are at risk during the pandemic, we have decided to bring them together, to see how they are fairing, and to make sure they are coping.”
“We also brought them together so that they can get the fresh air they normally get….to cushion the effect of COVID-19 and keep them happy as we usually do.
“We want to make sure that, from time to time, they get something which is usually not within their means.”
To the executive secretary, FCDA, Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin whose wife organised the parley, it was natural and imperative caring for the elderly because they were vulnerable and it gave them hope to live in good health.
“The natural instinct is that you want to say, yes, I have a role to play (in elders’ lives), because it is something that every responsible citizen or human being should be able to do for the elderly, because this is what really gives them hope that there is blessing in being old.
“This NGO is certainly on the right track,” he assured.
An assistant director in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Joseph Dzungwe, pledged more support from his ministry, stressing: “I hope that, what I have seen here, the seriousness of which they are working on the issue of older persons, I hope that we shall partner more.”
Some of the elderly persons at the event expressed happiness and gratitude to the foundation and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for giving them the treat, adding that they felt proud, loved and not left alone at old age.
Responding on behalf of the senior citizens, an elderly man who did not give his name, stated: “The Pause of Old Peoples’ Home in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development had done a fantastic thing. Nothing is too small, nothing is too big.
“We are very happy and very grateful to them for remembering us the old people today.
“Not many in the society remember we exist, need attention, care and love. We don’t have anything to give them back, but we only pray that God should bless and provide more for them.”
Abuja group conducts free medical tests, gives palliatives to the elderly
