MoU will create action plans for the provision of healthcare services for older persons
Oru Leonard
The Director General, National Senior Citizen Center (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokari has said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the Federal Ministry of Health will create action plans for the provision of healthcare services for older persons across the country.
Dr Omokaro who stated this on Wednesday while speaking at the signing of the MoU yesterday in Abuja, disclosed that the aim of the MoU was to standardize the care of older persons with certified healthcare agencies.
She explained the types of care for older persons which are health and social care services, domiciliary care, family care, community care, respite care, and palliative care among others.
She said the importance of the MoU is to cover the gap because the NSCC does not have a department to deal with professional services.
She further said that all the professional bodies in the health sector are being brought together such that they can own the process and understand the statutory mandate that they are supposed to play.
She urged on the need to map out how to finance and provide innovative insurance to assist the older person to have access to health and social care services.
Speaking in his remarks, the Director, Head Gender, adolescent, school health and elderly division Federal Ministry of Health Dr John Ovuoraye said the MoU is important inorder to achieve the universal health coverage.
He explained that the agreement will create room for more robust engagement among the MDAs, such that there will be clearly defined roles and responsibilities to avoid duplication of work as well as the elimination of repetitiveness and waste of resources.
“With the MoU, ministries will begin to have a line budget to address the needs of older persons adding that with MoU on the ground international partners will be willing to key into supporting older persons and ensure more resources are made available”, he stressed.
Meanwhile, the National Senior Citizens Centre holds Stakeholders Sensitization/Expert Group Meeting on Development of National Benchmark Statement and Minimum Standards in Curriculum for Training Care Givers to Older Persons and Care Agencies/Facility Operators in Nigeria Towards Certification is going on between Wednesday 22nd – Friday 24th March 2023, at the same venue, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham at Garki, Abuja.
