At launch of older persons day: Minister calls for collective actions to optimise capacities, wellbeing of elderly.

She was speaking during a ceremony to officially launch activities in Cameroon marking the celebration of the 34th edition of the International Day of Older Persons, IDOP.

The ceremony took place in Meyomessi, Dja and Lobo Division, South Region.

The event, held Friday September 20, was attended by the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, MINPROFF, Prof Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa. 

It was also attended by several administrative, municipal and traditional authorities as well as some elite of the Division. 

The 34th edition of IDOP, observed every October 1, has been placed under the theme “the part we play”.

Speaking during the ceremony, the minister made a clarion call to both public and private, national and international partners.

She said it is incumbent on all the stakeholders to put in place collective actions likely to optimise the functional capacities of elderly persons so as to enable them to enjoy a state of wellbeing and to contribute effectively to social life.

She said this will enhance the building of a society of peace, social cohesion and prosperity.

The minister then hammered on the need to raise community awareness about changing attitudes towards older people and respecting their human, social, economic, political and cultural rights.

Minister Irene Nguene equally called for all to mobilise and encourage the elderly people towards their civic participation in the socio-economic development.

“We must value and promote the knowledge, experience, know-how and interpersonal skills of older people as key elements of inclusive social development,” she declared, adding “we must promote training for social workers in the professions of the elderly, with a view to improving the acquisition of knowledge about aging, gerontology and the fight against age discrimination”.

In line with Biya’s policy 

According to the member of government, this official launch of activities, marking the start of the Seniors' Week, is in line with “the Voluntarist and Humanist Policy of the Head of State, who has made the social inclusion of socially vulnerable persons a priority of his social policy”.

During this week, she affirmed that the elderly will be celebrated with a duty to recognise them, make them more visible and to enhance their image, resilience, knowledge and know-how. This, she said, could be done by highlighting the initiatives undertaken by the government and its partners to ensure that their specific needs for protection, support and promotion are taken into account.

In addition, the member of government stressed that it's time to combat prejudices that lead to the marginalisation of older people, to promote the essential roles they are called upon to play in the communities, and to strengthen care and support systems in order to offer them the central place they occupy.

Encourages elderly people

Minister Nguene encouraged the elderly that their social participation offers them the opportunities to read meaning to their lives, develop a sense of belonging, maintain interactions and exercise their social role in the society.

“Become players in economic and social development, generating both a new market interface and social utility. Be actors in the emergence of our country,” the minister indicated. 

She also pointed out that 2024 IPOD provides another opportunity to make full use of the potential and know-how of older people in development programmes and projects.

“The week of activities that opens today also provides us with a platform to raise community awareness and make available to them a wide range of information on the various existing and applicable regulatory measures, as well as on the public and private initiatives implemented with a view to achieving healthy and active ageing,” she elucidated.

In this regard, the minister exhorted all to pursue awareness-raising and social mobilisation in favour of the value and social participation of the elderly, in families, communities, synagogues, churches, mosques, schools and in all other sectors of national life.

The minister also used the opportunity to announce that the project for the construction of Meyomessi Social Centre has been approved for the 2025 financial year with the foundation stone expected to be laid in the near future.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3239 of Tuesday September 24, 2024