DEVOTE SPECIAL RESOURCES TO CATER FOR 'SENIOR CITIZENS' , DON CHARGES GOVERNMENT
The 139th Inaugural Lecturer of the University of Calabar (Unical), Prof. Ita Bassey Okokon, has charged the government at all levels to devote special resources to cater for the well-being of of the elderly otherwise known as 'senior citizens' due to their peculiar nature.
Prof. Okokon, a Professor of Family Medicine, gave the charge while delivering the institution's inaugural lecture on the topic, "Healthcare for Senior Citizens; Before Death and Beyond the Grave", at the Godswill Akpabio International Conference Centre.
Describing ageing as an inevitable process, Prof. Okokon noted that the elderly population worldwide is increasing faster than the general population, hence the need to pay special attention to their health and general well-being.
He highlighted that economic hardship and changing societal/family values have resulted in a large number of the elderly fending for themselves, requiring optimal health to do so.
The Inaugural lecturer opined that a good number of the elderly have critical illnesses which are associated with deleterious outcomes and increased cost, saying good medication choice is a basic requirement, and appropriate dosing and monitoring by caregivers are quite vital in the elderly.
The Don said the demand for family caregiving for the elderly has taken a huge toll on family members with records of high rates of depressive symptoms, outright depression, anxiety, stress, emotional difficulties as well as lower physical health status and impaired health behavior.
Prof. Okokon urged policymakers to make effort to learn on how best to support the nation's increasingly ageing population.
He however urged the elderly to take a break from bad news, read hilarious books, watch a comedy, and spend time with people who make them laugh, saying it is the best medicine.
Prof. Okokon said the elderly population which continues to grow all over the world is an asset to families, communities, and societies at large, stressing that, if the elderly in Unical Community are well cared for, the community will continue to benefit from their wealth of wisdom, guidance and knowledge.
He urged the Governing Council of Unical to retain hard-working and upcoming professors and other staff who are still very productive beyond the age of 70 years.
Prof. Okokon further tasked Unical to blaze the trail in caring for their elderly citizens while they are in service, at retirement, and as well, develop care plans for them till they depart this life.
The Vice Chancellor of Unical, Prof. Florence Obi, commended Prof. Okokon for delivering a well-researched and impactful lecture, praising him for shedding light on the importance of caring for the elderly population and providing valuable recommendations for policymakers and the university community.
Represented by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tony Eyang, the University helsman said, "We need to recognize the wealth of wisdom, guidance, and knowledge that our elderly population brings to our community.
"By caring for them, we not only improve their quality of life but also enable them to continue contributing to society in meaningful ways."
Highpoint of the lecture was the presentation of a memento to the Inaugural lecturer by the Acting Vice Chancellor on behalf of the Vice Chancellor.
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University of Calabar
