The Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) Plateau state chapter has urged Nigerians to imbibe the habit of providing special care for the elderly.
This was the crux of a one day symposium organised by IMAN in Jos the Plateau state capital.
IMAN chairman and lecturer with the University of Jos, Prof. Muhammad Sabo, said as people age 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, we must also know what type of food the old people need 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 and even surgical-related diseases need to be identified and provided as geriatric management, mostly amongst Muslim ummah,” he added.
Discussing the rate of infectious diseases amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Shehu Sani, expressed concern over the nonchalant attitude of some people.
Mr. Sani, a staff of Aids Prevention Initiatives in Nigeria (APIN) Jos University Teaching Hospital, said it was necessary for all to adhere to all COVID-19 protocols.
IMAN secretary and community health expert, Malam Tijjani Ibrahim, said the association would continue to embark on sensitisation of communities on the importance of geriatric as well as infectious diseases.
“It is part of IMAN’s objectives to sensitise the general public as we have done today, and we will continue to do it, aimed at seeing to the possible means of prevention of infectious diseases and their control,” he added.
