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Zimbabwe yesterday joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of Older Persons, and as a nation there is need to change the perspective of ageing and strive to overcome structural barriers to equality for all ages.
Since Independence from Britain in 1980, there has been a significant increase in life expectancy. To enjoy the benefits of this demographic bounty, Zimbabwe has to protect the elderly. Since time immemorial, older persons played significant roles in our societies as leaders, caretakers and custodians of our various traditions in the country.
Although playing a significant role as models of wisdom, the elderly are highly vulnerable; with a huge percentage of them falling into poverty.
They have no one to nurse them, face discrimination and some even become disabled. While healthcare is improving, the country’s population of older people is also growing, meaning their needs are growing as well. The United Nations’ (UN) “Principles for Older Persons”, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1991, require all governments to expand support to older persons.
This year’s theme, “The Journey to Age Equality” is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 10 (SDG 10), and focuses on pathways of coping with existing — and preventing future — old age inequalities. SDG 10 sets to reduce inequality within — and among — countries, and aims to “ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome,” including through measures to eliminate discrimination, and to “empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.”
According to the UN, almost 700 million people are now over the age of 60. By 2050, two billion people, over 20 percent of the world’s population, will be 60 or older.
The increase in the number of older people will be the greatest and the most rapid in the developing world, with Asia as the region with the largest number of older persons, and Africa facing the largest proportionate growth. Statistics above should guide Zimbabwe to improve on attention to particular needs and challenges faced by older people.
Equally important is the crucial influence the majority of older men and women can continue to make to the functioning of society if adequate guarantees are in place.
UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons Rosa Kornfeld-Matte said in a statement to mark the commemorations on Tuesday: “Unlike refugees, women and children, persons with disabilities or other groups, older persons are not protected by any specific human rights instrument; which may explain the lack of representation of the unique challenges faced by the elderly, in terms of global policy, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” she said.
“We need to stand up now for older persons’ rights. While we aspire to live for as long as possible, we do not want to age. Pervasive gerontophobia, the fear of age-related self-degeneration and death, nurtures prejudice against older people, discrimination and ultimately the denial of human rights in older age.”
The country, therefore, needs to urgently build a stable elderly care infrastructure and support system.
Apart from focusing on a better quality of life through the adoption of technology-based healthcare, there is also a need to aim at building a better social and support network for senior citizens.
Additionally, senior citizens have the right to live with dignity, something that is yet to become a reality both at cultural and policy level.
The population of the elderly can be reimagined as an economically valuable constituency that can take the country forward with its rich experience.
Online Reporter