Article: Elders Also Cry

               

Growing old can be as graceful as it can be a nightmare, especially where there is the absence of health care schemes targeted at age-related diseases. Martins Ifijeh writes on the plight of aged Nigerians, whose health should be the collective responsibility of the government, families and the society in general

The truth dawned on Pa Salami like twilight of a shuttered room when his body physiology began to fail. His once bright and sharp eyes grew deemed, revealing only murkiness even on a bright sunny day. His once sharp memory and admired intelligence gave way to dementia, which causes memory loss and childhood behaviour in adults. A lot of things have changed. He is now a shadow of his former self.

These changes depict the reality for the 83-year-old former civil servant with Railway Corporation, who was once full of life and did everything by himself during his hey days; from driving, making ends meet for his family, engaging in sporting activities, among others. But these weren’t met to be anymore, old age has set in, bringing along alzheimer, arthritis, urinary incontinence and loss of cognitive ability. All that matters to him now is fighting for his health, whilst needing the support of people around him to do the basic necessities like defecating and moving from one point of the house to another.

While chatting with THISDAY during his youngest daughter’s traditional marriage ceremony in his compound in Auchi, a town in Edo State, even though not as coherent as he used to be, Pa Salami, who spent some of this youthful days in Britain and Germany, explained the frustration that has greeted him since old age disease began to set in. How he would have loved to be enrolled in a healthcare scheme that would take care of his failing body.

“Several years ago, this my house used to be full of life just the way it is now. My children would run around the compound, visitors were always coming every now and then. Relations and community people never ceased from here. But with time, children began to grow up, school took some out of the house, and then jobs and family finally took them all away from the house. They are all scattered now in different places in this country. And then, the unthinkable happened. I lost my wife 15 years ago. Since then, this house has been the shadow of itself, leaving me and a relation all alone.

“Over time, I discovered I could no longer do the things I used to do. Couldn’t drive anymore due to constant joint pain, couldn’t see far, even moving from one point to the other became the most difficult thing for me that used to play football and run those days for my school. Now, I have a lot of challenges, my body is failing everyday. I am always ill these days,” he lamented.

He explained that the money he gets from his children was not enough to tackle most of his treatments, as cases were being diagnosed on him every now and then, adding that one of his major challenges was not having someone around the house who really understands what he was going through.

Going down memory lane, Pa Salami explained that while in Britain, his aged neigbhours had social support from the government that took care of their health needs, wishing there was one in Nigeria that targets the health of the country’s elders. “We have done a lot for our society and country during our youthful days. Most of our children are not financially okay to support their elderly parents. Can’t our government just establish a health scheme for elders in this country, say from 70 years old and above?” he queried.

Pa Salami, who in fact might be among the very few fortunate aged Nigerian who get stipends from their children for health support, even though he largely complained of the money not enough to cater for his medical treatments, the case of other aged persons in the country might depict more sorrier tales.

For instance, Mrs. Modupe Adegoke, who lives in Ayobo area of Lagos is not a happy woman. Sickness and hunger are her best friends even at her old age of 70 years. The stench from her room would cause any healthy person to develop instant sickness. Her three children cannot even fend for themselves and their own families, not to talk of taking care of her health.

Modupe has been suffering from arthritis for many years, coupled with other pockets of age related diseases that disturbs her in trickles. Meanwhile, she has never done diabetes test. She has never done blood pressure test. So she doesn’t know if there are underlying ailments affecting her, other than arthritis. However, her primary concern isn’t her health. All she wants first is food and then healthcare.

When THISDAY visited her one evening, it wasn’t only with a pen and paper to write her sorry tales, but with a pack of food. Incidentally, that was her first meal for the day.

Asked if she has visited the hospital in recent times, Madam Modupe said she has never visited the hospital in about 10 years, adding that the only time she had medical checkup was when a non-governmental organisation, did a free screening and treatment programme in her community.

“That was where I was told I had arthritis. I am always in pain anytime I try to move my legs, waist and other joints. Moving from one point to the other is very difficult for me. I also constantly have flu and headache, and I am always weak these days. My children have no meaningful jobs, sometimes, their own children come here to see if I have food so they can eat. Who can I run to? My health is failing and my stomach is always empty,” she lamented.

Pa Salami and Madam Modupe are just few among elderly Nigerians who are suffering from one form of neglect or the other, especially on their health issues, which ordinarily should be the responsibility of the families and government.

According to available statistics, Nigeria has the largest number of elderly people over 60 years of age in Sub-Sahara Africa, with majority of them living in destitution and are left at the mercy of good Samaritans.

In Nigeria, the burden of care for the elderly squarely rests on family members despite the provisions in the 1999 Constitution, Section 14. 2(b), which states categorically that, “The security and welfare of its people shall be the primary purpose of the government” and in Section 16, sub-section 2(d) promises, “That suitable and adequate shelter and suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens.”

The old age care, according to analysts includes welfare package for old age, involving stipends, medical care, special attention for them if needed, and other social schemes that should sustain or improve their quality of life.

Also in 1982 at Vienna, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a set of principles for older persons, recommending that all Member States incorporate them in their programmes for the old. This is in recognition that as people age, they become less active, frailer and more prone to diseases associated with aging. Nigeria is a member of the United Nations.

Speaking with THISDAY, a health expert, Dr. Raymond Olumide said one thing noticed in Nigerian hospitals was that most elderly people were only brought to the hospital after their cases must have reached critical levels, adding that the society and its government do not take the health of the elderly seriously.

“Most times, people brush aside the health challenges of the elderly because they believe since they are already old, it is not out of place for them to have cases like arthritis, diabetes, stroke, cancer, among others. But the truth is that, they are wrong. Arthritis and other health issues affecting aged people can be treated, while the elderly live quality lives till God say its time.

“The quality of life we give to the elderly goes a long way in determining their lifespan. Families, loved ones and people around aged people shouldn’t wait till their cases have reached a point that cannot be managed before bringing them to the hospital,” he added.

He stated that often times people get busy with their own families without thinking about the wellbeing of their aged parents. “At such age, the best any family, society and the government can do for them is to make sure there is food on their table, as well as make sure they get proper treatment for health issues that might result due to their old age.

“In the spirit of change which we are still basking on, the National Assembly should put legislations in place to tackle these issues. Same with the Federal Government, the incoming Health Minister should also target issues relating to the elderly