Joseph Isaac and Marie Ophelia speak on International Day of Older Persons. Dominica celebrated the special day with the theme “The Journey to Ageing Equality”. This activity came barely a week after the country concluded activities on the Month of the Elderly with the theme “Pioneers of Resilience: The Journey to Ageing Equality”.
Representing the minister for health and social services, Hon. Joseph Isaac said the government is committed to the welfare of the elderly and will continue to ensure that they are well taken care of in their old age. He said the government will ensure that old folks have access to quality housing, medical care, social amenities and other initiatives to enable them age gracefully in all areas of living.
“It is in this spirit that the International Day of Older Persons theme espouses aging equality; a task and responsibility that every single capable citizen of this nation and the global community must remain in tune with,” Isaac said.
He cautioned against elder abuse, saying senior citizens have laboured for the betterment of the country and must be cared for. He said everyone must remain vigilant to ensure that elders are not abused or maltreated in any manner. He said senior citizens are adored treasures and “we must continue to interact with them, engage them and not let them leave the face of this planet with all their wealth of knowledge.”
The Lady of Song and President of Council of Ageing, Ophelia Marie, there should be a register for all senior citizens in Dominica. She revealed that all elders on the island must be properly accounted for and the government must be aware of how close they are to age 100. She disclosed that attaining the age of 100 is the true definition of resilience, and that tallies with the current them of “Pioneers of Resilience: The Journey to Ageing Equality”.
This article is copyright © 2019 DOM767
