The average Nigerian child grows up with fear of old people especially the wrinkled ones. Perhaps, only their Grandparents who because of proximity are somewhat okay to them. Every other aged and wrinkled person is a witch or wizard, no thanks to home movies.
Generally, very few old people are accorded the care and respect they deserve. In Africa especially, we are quick to condemn those who take their old folks to old peoples home where they are given geriatric care and get company yet, we keep our own aged people at home and pay little attention to them.
The question is ,do we ever remember that we too will grow old of God keeps us alive? Would we want to become an afterthought to our children? Will we grow into witches responsible for 90 percent of the ills in our families and societies? Why then do we make ourselves part of the stereotype?
Sadly, even Government pays lip service to caring for our senior citizen outside gathering them once a year and talking with them during the international day of the aged like today, every other consideration for their comfort is done with half hearted attempts and yields little result.
The theme for this years international day of the aged is “Age with equality”, is it feasible in Nigeria? Will the day come when the aged get free medical care or at least subsidized medical care? Will it happen in our time that the aged can pay half the fare when they use public transport?
We owe our today and even tomorrow to the aged who have done their bit and passed the touch to us. We too will age and take their place. Let us do more to make their last years comfortable and memorable.
Lets dignify the aged in our midst. Call them often. Give Thomas many privileges as we can afford. Teach our children to love and spend time with their grandparents. Make conscious efforts to make them happy.
This year enable the aged around you age with equality.
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