<h4> By Peter Moses
Abeokuta </h4>
Th e Executive Director of the Senior Citizens Care Foundation (SCCF), Jide Taiwo, yesterday disclosed that the foundation had provided free medical care for over 50,000 elderly persons across six states in the South West through its initiative which began in 2008.
Taiwo disclosed this yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun state, during a free elderly care programme organised by SCCF.
Th e programme held at the palace of Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Ogun State capital, was in commemoration of the 2017 International Senior Citizens Day celebration.
Th e Executive Director noted that a huge number of the elderly in Nigeria who had laboured for the country in their productive years were battling “deteriorating health condition.
” Taiwo said the foundation was poised to bring succour to the vulnerable senior citizens, whose welfare were being neglected by the government.
He disclosed that the foundation was building a social health centre in Ogun state where senior citizens would receive medical care.
Taiwo said: “Th e foundation has been running for 13 years, but the initiative itself started 9 years ago.
So, in the past 9 years, we have taken care of over 50,000 elderly.
Th is is the last state we are covering in the South West.
We had taken the initiative to Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo.
“Th e foundation has also proposed a Social Health Centre for seniors which will be built and situated in Ogun State.
When completed, it would be fi rst of its kind in Nigeria.
” Th e chairman of the foundation, Justice Bola Ajibola, who gave the elderly some tips on daily exercise, said the programme was part of SCCF humanitarian gesture towards the elders in the society.
Th e retired jurist said: “We are not doctors neither are we obstetrician or ophthalmologist but we are here to assist those who are ageing particularly the sexagenarians, septuagenarians, and octogenarians who because of their age cannot see properly or having minor defects in one part of their organs or the other.
“It is our believe that essentially, we live to help our fellow men and women whenever it is possible and wherever it is possible to be done must be our watchword and determination.
” Th e foundation presented Senior Citizens certifi cates to former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was represented by Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, and Olubara of Ibara, Oba Jacob Omolade.
