The cabinet, on May 31, approved a new national policy on older persons. According to the Ministry of Local Government, the National Older Persons Policy "reinforces the Government of Rwanda’s commitment to promote the value and participation of older persons in communities.” The objective of the new legal framework is to "secure an environment in which older persons are ensured with full dignity, guaranteed to reach their rights to health, secured lives and responsibilities.
The ministry says that prior to coming up with the policy, an analysis "revealed that there are a number of bottlenecks faced by older persons and they are related to quality of life, rights, caregiving in family, health, employment, income security and social welfare, poverty, food and nutrition and Inter-generation relationship.
"More specifically, poverty and poor living conditions characterise the lives of older persons and there is need for a more responsive social protection system that cater for the older person’s needs.”
The New Times’ ELIANE IRAKOZE spoke to some of the senior citizens about their welfare and expectations going forward.
Excerpts:
Dorothée Uwimana, chairperson, Rwanda Pensioners Association
The new policy comes to help address the problems of elders, both those who receive no pension benefits and those who do. Mostly, we expect it to be very helpful in the sector of health because doctors will be in all local hospitals (Centre de Santé) to especially help elderly persons with chronic diseases where they will have access to medicine more easily and affordably. It will also improve relations between different generations and promote respect and dignity for the older citizens.
Celestin Rwamukwaya,67, Gikondo resident
Mutuelle (the community-based health insurance scheme) alone cannot cover my medical needs because I receive only Rwf55,000 monthly in pension benefits. We hope the government can provide insurance to pensioners. I also expect an increase in the monthly pension because it doesn’t match with the current living standards.
Sarah Mukandekeye, 64, Nyakabanda resident
I am excited about this policy, because I think it will address many problems we have been facing, especially health-related. I also think it would be helpful if there were specific health facilities for elderly persons to avoid lining up at hospitals and health centres with everyone else. We’d also like to have special places where we can go and exercise and interact as older persons, this would help address the issue of loneliness and keep us active.”
Gerard Karamutsa, 73, retiree
Employees save part of their salary so they can live a healthy life during retirement. We appreciate the government’s commitment to improve the welfare of older persons but, generally, for retirees you don’t get a sense that you are leading a life you thought you saved for.”
Jean Damascène Muganwa, 70, retiree
"This shows how much the government values older persons in general. It will enhance good intergenerational relationship which really needed to be worked on. I hope they will pay special attention to the health and social welfare of older persons.
National Older Persons Policy at a glance
. Creates awareness among the community members as to ensure physical, economic and psychological preparedness for older persons.
. Improves health and quality of life of older persons.
. Provides older persons with protection and care through appropriate support services.
. Promotes positive values for intergenerational relationships.
. Serves as a launchpad for "a universal approach to provision of social security and social protection in the form of a universal social pension, to meet the needs of current older people. This will be achieved through the enhancement of the long-term savings promotion (Ejo HEZA) for the informal sector, to help meet the financing the pension and asset protection needs of the next generation of older people”