NSINDAGIZA Organization, promoting the rights and welfare of older people is major concerned in the increasing spread of COVID-19. While the pandemic affects all population groups, older people due to their low immune system and underlying non communicable diseases threatens the wellbeing of older persons and can result to high mortality rate among the older persons. Though no many cases of COVID-19 reported among older people, there is need to take all measures to protect them by putting more efforts, ensuring that they get adequate information about Covid-19 and how to prevent being infected. The Government, UN agencies, bilateral cooperation, private sector, development partners and CSOs support systems should consider this in all their interventions.
Despite the Government’s interventions to support the most at risk people, including older people, there still more challenges such as access to information on COVID-19 for older people, as some already live alone and depend on other people, who are currently confined. Most of information are shared through social media, Televisions, Radios and written magazines, to which older people don’t have access. The lockdown period and social distancing affect older people in different ways, including the provision of basic needs such as food, sanitary materials, etc by community members who are at the moment quarantined in their homes. The situation like this may result to mental problems, anxiety, depression, etc. There could be also those who were under life-long treatment who may not be able to get medical services as normal health services have been affected by the current preparation of the Covid-19 response.
NSINDAGIZA in collaboration with the Rwanda Leave No One Behind Network and URUMURI RW’IZABUKURU ageing platform is, following up through mobile phone by community-based volunteers, elderly support group leaders and community older people committees who are monitoring the situation of older people; support given and challenges faced. This information is shared with relevant authorities and other actors who could provide support to improve the situation. At national level, members of two platforms have also been engaging policy makers and hopefully older persons will get enough information, community health systems that is age friendly, livelihood support and other important materials to ensure wellbeing of older persons.
As member of Global Helpage Network, we are also collecting information on what is being done in other contexts worldwide and get inspired from them. It is in this spirit that we got the attached materials and messages developed on COVID-19 among older people, that we are using to spread the messages to older people through community-based volunteers and elderly committees, the materials could be used by any other actors in development and humanitarian intervention. Further, the huge gaps in ensuring equality and non-discrimination of older people is being highlighted and hence the need for policy makers to modify both humanitarian and development laws, policies and programmes to include the unique needs of older persons.
Kigali, March 30, 2020
Elie MUGABOWISHEMA,
President of NSINDAGIZA Organization