Imo Assembly urges Uzodinma to establish Senior Citizens Management Home

By Jude Opara

The Imo State House of Assembly has urged the Governor of the state, Hope Uzodinma to establish a management home for the older citizens who have used their youthful age to serve the state but can no longer take care of themselves either due to old age or ailments.
The Motion was moved by the lawmaker representing Isu Constituency, Kingsley Emeka Ozurumba at the State Assembly.
Presenting the motion, the lawmaker said it is necessary to look after the aged ones who may not have people to take care of them at home and may die at any moment due to negligence.
He suggested that senior citizens’ management homes be created through the Ministry of Health in partnership with public-private engagement to offer health services to the elderly to avoid losing them as they still have valuable contributions to offer to society.
Ozurumba noted that the State Ministry of Health as presently constituted, does not have any department or agency under it specifically designed to cater for older citizens after retirement.
” There are numerous private organizations that are in the business of gerontology.
The government can come in through public-private partnerships as a business model to partner with private organizations to introduce this department to benefit the elderly without incurring any cost to the Government.
The Isu lawmaker said to achieve results the Ministry of Health through the primary health centres in the various LGAs can be used to anchor the programme in a supervisory capacity.
He further suggested that a memorandum of understanding be established on how to manage the programme.
“In the above instance, auxiliary nurses could be employed by this jobs would have been created, unemployment reduced.
The MoU will remove the burden of payment of salaries from the government to the beneficiaries.
Hence, the relatives of the care receivers will bear the cost of services rendered as it is done in other climes.” he said.
After much deliberation by members of the house, the motion was adopted. They urged the Governor to direct the Ministry of Health to set up a committee to commence the establishment of senior citizens management homes across the three geopolitical zones.