By Polycarp Onwubiko
I am delighted that my advocacy on the Facebook page and in the National Light newspaper last year, urging Governor Soludo to consider establishing an aged/old people's home, has been recognized as necessary, and the project is in the 2024 Budget proposal.
Many people silently struggle to care for their aging parents in the village, as it's challenging to find servants or maids due to government free primary and secondary school education programs. Consequently, the elderly in the village are left alone, handling tasks that risk their frail health, with healthcare delivery being subpar in the hinterlands.
In an attempt to meet necessities, some aging parents break down in health, and without visits from neighbors, they pass away, left to decompose. Some opt to take their elderly parents to urban or semi-urban towns, but the inconveniences are indescribable, leading to silent suffering and even grave sicknesses.
The Anambra State government's decision to establish an aging and elderly people's home is highly appreciated and commendable. This should set a pattern for all states in the Federation. Funding should be a top priority in annual budgets, and to supplement, people and organizations should contribute to ensure the home's operation is akin to developed countries.
The government should be stringent in recruiting personnel for the homes to prevent corruption and theft of commodities and facilities. The scarcity of God-fearing individuals in the country necessitates caution in personnel selection.
Polycarp Onwubiko JP, public policy analyst.
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