Nigerians should device means and imbibe the habit of providing geriatric management (wellbeing of elderly), the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Plateau state chapter has urged.
This was discussed in a one day symposium, IMAN organised in Jos, the state capital.
The IMAN chairman, a lecturer with the University of Jos, Prof. Muhammad Sabo, said as people aged out, it is the responsibility of the younger ones to ensure that their living standard is adequately taken care off.
“Not only that we should be able to provide them with food, but that we must also know what type of food the old people needs as nutrients to their body,” Dr. Sabo said.
He said, besides nutrition, elderly persons also need special care and attention by identifying some of their common problems.
“Social, physical, psychological, mental, medical as even surgical related diseases, needs to be identified and provided as Geriatric management, mostly amongst Muslim ummah,” he added.
Discussing the rates of infectious diseases, amidst Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Shehu Sani, expressed concerned over the nonchalant attitude of some people.
Mr. Sani a staff of Aids Prevention Initiatives in Nigeria (APIN), Jos University Teaching Hospital, said it is absolutely necessary for every human to adhere to all protocols of Covid-19.
“All manner of persons, most especially small children and elderly ones, needs to be properly looked up to in the observance of the Coronavirus protocol, for proper prevention and control of the disease,” he said.
The IMAN Secretary, a community health expert, Malam Tijjani Ibrahim, said the Association will continue to embark on sensitisation of communities, on the importance of Geriatric as well as infectious diseases.
“It is part of IMAN objectives to sensitise, the general public as we have done it today, and we will continue to do it, aim at seeing to the possible means of prevention of infectious diseases and their control,” he added.
