Mozambique: Nyusi calls for behavioural change towards the elderly

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Mozambique: Nyusi calls for behavioural change towards the elderly

11:13 CAT | 03 Oct 2022

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Domingo]

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi calls for a behavioural change and strengthening of social inclusion by adoption for more favourable policies for older persons.

Nyusi made this call Saturday on his message marking the International Day of Older Persons, which in Mozambique was celebrated under the theme: “Let’s value the contribution of the order person for social resilience.”

“We are all called upon towards the way people think and act towards the elderly, and to work to defend their rights. As a government we will continue to make our contribution by adopting more adequate policies, strategies, practices and legislation”, says the president’s message.

Being old, according to Nyusi, is a sign of wisdom, experience, and maturity, though the contribution of the elderly person including resources in the family and community is often ignored or simply not visible.

He pointed out that there is no such thing as eternal youth, and being old is a blessing because it is not guaranteed that all young people will reach old age.

“Humanity is characterized by the coexistence of children, young people, adults, and the elderly. On the contrary, the elderly are faced with discrimination, exclusion, abuse and violence of all kinds in their own family and community and often by those who should protect them”, says the president, adding the superstition of perpetuators is often pointed as the cause of many acts of violence against the elderly

Nyusi also calls for the elder to continue making their contribution to the stability of families and the formation of new generations, by transmitting values of the importance of work, respect for others, social justice, tolerance and respect for differences, and the unity of Mozambicans as basic conditions for the promotion of our well-being now and in the future.

Also, its our collective duty to educate the new generations to assume old age as a natural process, and that today’s youth and adults will be elderly tomorrow.

As for this year’s celebrations Nyusi says the theme “draws our attention to the need to recognize that the elderly not only demonstrate their capacity for adaptation and resilience to adverse phenomena, but also play an important role in the fight against these evils, contributing to the good of families and communities”

“All over the world, the number of old people is increasing. Latest data indicate that by 2030, the number of people aged 60 will grow from 1 billion (in 2019) to 1.4 billion.

By 2050, the elderly population will double, surpassing the population of teenagers and young people aged 15 to 24. The fastest growth will be recorded on the African continent”, he said.

“Throughout this challenging time, the elderly population has always made its contribution in the responses to the challenges faced by Mozambicans”, he stressed.

Nyusi also recalled that this year the government approved the National Plan for the Elderly 2022-2029 making it clear that “at all times, we will promote the participation of the older persons in the definition of policies and other normative instruments that concern them.”

“We want Mozambique to be a place where older people can develop, live and work as they please, play and grow old without fear”.

Therefore, said the president, “I take this opportunity to urge all Mozambicans to adopt an attitude that dignifies the elderly, ensuring that they enjoy equal rights, without discrimination, violence or exclusion of any kind”.

He advised for the spirit of permanent dialogue between generations to prevail, with the aim of valuing and maximizing the experiences of all its members for the benefit of all.

The International Day of Older Persons was instituted by the United Nations in 1990, focused on raising social awareness about the human rights of the older persons.

This year’s celebrations takes place two years after the United Nations General Assembly declared the period 2021 to 2030 as the Decade of Healthy Ageing.

Source: AIM