Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government has announced the establishment of dedicated desks for senior citizen care in 40 different Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) across the country. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address the needs of Nigeria’s ageing population, recognizing that no single agency can adequately manage the multifaceted requirements of elder care.
The Director-General of the National Senior Citizens Center (NSCC), Dr. Emem Omokaro, made the announcement during an inaugural training programme for Quality Assurance Assessors in the Geriatric Social Care Skills Sector in Abuja on Thursday. Dr. Omokaro emphasized the importance of these desks in providing specialized care and preventing the marginalization and stigmatization of older persons in various sectors.
While Dr. Omokaro did not specify the MDAs involved, she underscored the significance of collaboration across multiple agencies to ensure comprehensive care for the elderly. “No one person, no single ministry can handle ageing alone because what they do is different statutorily. NSCC has dug deep to understand different mandates of relevant agencies, and we went on a very high-level advocacy, meeting technical partnership,” she explained.
Dr. Omokaro further revealed that the NSCC has developed a Care Quality Assurance System for Nigeria, which includes a national benchmark and minimum standards for accrediting care settings. These standards are designed to elevate the quality of care for senior citizens across the country.
“These are the foundations that the NSCC is laying by working with different professionals bit by bit, by developing the Nigeria Care Quality Assurance System in the country,” she said. The system includes national policy guidelines on geriatric social care, quality assurance, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring that care providers adhere to established protocols.
The NSCC has also facilitated partnerships with key institutions such as the Ministry of Health and the National Board for Technical Education. These partnerships are formalized through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), ensuring that the standards set by the NSCC are implemented across the board.
Addressing the broader challenges of elder care in Nigeria, Dr. Omokaro highlighted the need for specialized training in geriatric care. “Care for older persons in line with global best practices is a skill that requires training,” she noted. The NSCC has taken steps to certify professionals in the field, ensuring that they are equipped to assess and provide high-quality care.
Dr. Omokaro also addressed the negative perceptions surrounding the ageing population in Nigeria during her keynote address at the Humanitarian Service Diamond Awards 2024 in Abuja. She called for a shift in attitudes, stressing that older persons should not be viewed as a burden but as valuable members of society. “Ageing is what everybody prays for. It calls for celebration,” she stated, urging for a change in the narrative that older citizens have nothing to contribute.
The establishment of the senior citizen care desks marks a significant step towards improving the quality of life for Nigeria’s elderly population, ensuring that they receive the care and respect they deserve in their later years.
