By Laraba Usman
A Non Governmental Organization called ‘Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons In Nigeria (COSROPIN) in collaboration with Gombe based NGO Mother hen Development Foundation have offered a free counselling and tests for elderly persons in Gombe.
The screening, which was funded by an organizstion VOICE was for hypertension and diabetese.
Hajia Aishatu Bukara Gombe state coordinator COSROPIN said the objective of the programne was initiated to give voice to the elderly persons in the society as well as improve their well being.
She said the decision to engage the beneficiaries on health talk and screening was informed by some of the ailments the aged people developed like diabeties, Hypertension due to lack of knowledge.
She said, those tested positive would be reffered to the hospital for proper medical care and advice.
She said the role of elderly persons in the society cannot be over emphasized hence the need to help and assist them.
“Elderly persons were playing a vital role in lives of the younger generations, by nuturing them, inculcating morals, good norms and values.
“Most of our communities and societies considsr old age as terminal disease which is gross misconception,” she said.
She said the organization also educate caregivers on how to take care of their older ones on how to live a healthy life.
Mrs. Erisa Danladi Executive Director Mother hen development foundation said the programne was a hangout with elderly.
Represented by Mrs. Linda Ayuba programne officer VOICE project, Mother hen Development Foundation said, elderly age is an age where alot of people see it as burdensome, tasking “We are basically here to hangout with them, understand some of the issues they have, to be able to explain to them certain routine they need to put into consideration.
According to her the highlight of the program was to check their health condition, advise them on what to do “We noticed that age comes with hypetention, diabeties because of negligence and dieting,” she said.
Danladi further advised the beneficiaries of the free screenings and counseling to pass the message to other members of the community.
Also speaking, the representative of ‘VOICE’ Mr Cedric Owuru said his organizstion give voice to the most marginalised members of the society.
He said they supported COSROPIN through the provision of grant to conduct the exercise to the older persons who were some of the vulnerable group in the society.
Alh. Usman Mohammed District head of Tudun Wada who is also the Shamaki of Gombe emirate and the programme host, expressed appreciation to the organisations for carrying out the exercise in his area.
