Victoria Ebere Eze, CEO, PDA
The elderly folk among us are greatly impacted by COVID-19 pandemic as a result of different factors that range from poor diet, a less functional immune system, underlying health issues, and physiological changes associated with the aging processes. From reports we also understand that the pandemic has more impact on the elderly with over 80% of these dying being in the age bracket above 65 years old. In developing countries like ours, this is proving to be true – fueled by a poor and failing health care system, the absence of social safety nets for the elderly, and increasing poverty which ‘older behind’.
As we neglect and deny care to the elderly people, they are put at high risk of contracting and dying from the virus. Speaking with Mr. Julius Eluu (over 70years old) of Amangbala in Afikpo North Local Government, it was revealed that the old people do not understand COVID 19 except that they heard that people should sit at home and not go out. For him that is not the priority of the old people. He further said that the rule on hand sanitizing is also out of place for the old people as they do not understand what it is and how the use sanitizers. He is of the opinion that government at this stage of the pandemic should be talking of providing relief materials for the citizens especially the older people. In conclusion, he said “Since I was born I have never heard nor seen a disease or sickness that tried to claim lives globally. This is the first of its kind and this is the more reason our leaders should do something before we are all caught up with the diseases; if not, if the disease does not kill us, hunger will end up killing us.” Although we know that the Spanish flu ravaged out communities too in 1918, memory of this is all but gone.
Interacting with Madam Chinyere Oko Evo (67 years old), PDA gathered that when the information first reached her community, she thought it was a cooked-up story. She admitted that up till this moment, some people in her community still doubt the authenticity of COVID- 19 pandemic. According to her, “Government has not done well, they have not brought any information to us, all we heard is that there is a deadly disease on air, we should stay at home, wash our hands until they decide when we can go out.”
Her suggestion is that local and state government should assess the needs of the people, especially the elderly; provide free medical services to ensure availability and accessibility of drugs and donate special relief materials dedicated solely to the elderly. At the community level, she suggested that we need to see a resurgence of community support to the elderly, including in the areas of information, sanitation and food aid. Philanthropists and churches should donate food items to the older people.
On the part of CSOs, PDA will continue to reach out to the poor and the excluded communities like Agba-Amaeta, educating them on healthy practices to avert COVID-19. Together we can reach out to this people.