A call has gone to the Federal Government to establish as a matter of urgency a National Policy that will cover affairs concerning the elderly in the society.

An organisation of Senior Citizens of Nigeria, Lieber Unity Friendship Foundation, LUF, who made the call in Lagos, further stressed the need to create a Social Security Scheme were N40, 000 will be paid to the elderly of 65 years and above for their up keep.

The Founder and the General Secretary, Comrade Kevin Lawrence while addressing hundreds of elderly people at the 2012 Quarterly Meeting and Health checks in Lagos, lamented the plight of the elderly in Nigeria.

According to him, the rate at which the elderly are dying in the society as a result of inadequate healthcare and poverty was alarming and embarrassing to the country.

Lawrence who lamented poor attitude of political office holders towards the elderly further called on the Federal government to establish a Ministry of the elderly or attached them to the Ministry of women Affairs and Children to ensure better attention of these senior citizens of Nigeria.

He called on wealthy members of the public and corporate organisations to partner with LUF Foundation to minimise the sufferings of elder members of the society.

His words; “After my 33 years experience as a unionist, I found out that it is very difficult for elderly people to cope in Nigeria and this informed my setting up this foundation to fill in the missing gap.”

He explained that LUF was set up to improve the health and economic conditions of the elderly, create a forum for interaction amongst the elderly in the society, create forum for the advancement of the care of the elderly, assist them to engage in simple business activities to mitigate the ravaging poverty as well as mobilise to stop the incessant delays in the payment of their benefits and other entitlements and advocates for the rights of the elderly.

Corroborating his views, the Project Director, Healthy Living Communications, Mr. Emman Oriakhi said the much desired policy should ensure that there is appropriate provision of a comprehensive healthcare package for the elderly in the country like is done in other parts of the world.  Oriakhi said: “Where there are provisions of healthcare in the country, only consultations are free. The elderly are meant to pay for various medical tests and treatments that will follow suit.”

“We are advocating that the policy makers should do something tangible for the elderly. Today, we are providing free health screening for prostate cancer, hypertension, and blood sugar amongst others.