Establish social security scheme for the elderly
Sep 22, 2008
A lot has been said about the Temangalo land that the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) purchased from security minister Amama Mbabazi. Whereas diverse opinions on the legality of the transaction have been expressed, whether or not the purchase was lawful should be left to the appropriate mechani
By Dan Ngabirano
A lot has been said about the Temangalo land that the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) purchased from security minister Amama Mbabazi. Whereas diverse opinions on the legality of the transaction have been expressed, whether or not the purchase was lawful should be left to the appropriate mechanisms.
However, it is a pity that rights of the elderly as regards social security have been ignored. It is not until one is 55 years that they can benefit from NSSF contributions. It is this group of persons over 60 years that is referred to as the elderly or senior citizens. They are the most affected persons by social security schemes like NSSF.
Whereas the Constitution recognises the elderly as one of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups that need to be protected under Article 33, more needs to be done in terms of affirmative action as stipulated under the same provision.
Although there has been remarkable progress with regard to protection of rights of other vulnerable groups like the youth and women, little has been done in regard to the elderly yet this group remains a major resource in culture, history and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
In most affected countries like South Africa, the elderly have been praised as the unsung heroes for this pandemic given the role they play both in nursing and taking care of orphans. In a number of African countries, most peace agreements have been brokered by this group of persons.
Pursuant to Article 33 of the Constitution, Parliament recently enacted the Equal Opportunities Act that significantly establishes the Equal Opportunities Commission. This commission is mandated to address issues of vulnerable groups to which the elderly belong.
Progress has also been made with formulation of a draft policy on the rights of the elderly. These steps are positive and in the right direction but they are likely to remain rhetoric if not complimented with strong advocacy aimed at informing these interventions.
Little attention is paid to the rights of the elderly by mainstream human rights organisations. They should realign their programmes to provide for advocacy and promotion of the rights of the elderly.
The Government should explore the possibility of setting up a national council and parliamentary representation for the elderly like other marginalised groups like women and the youth.
Given that access to health care is a compelling elusion in old age, the Government should introduce free medical care for the elderly. In addition, erotology (a study of the difficulties the aged go through) should be introduced in medical schools to build medical expertise with regard to health of these senior citizens.
Equally important is the need to involve the elderly in all interventions as opposed to paternalistic approaches.
The elderly are an important group that we can no longer afford to neglect.
As we chat a way forward for NSSF and other probable social security schemes, let us consider the elderly and their rights, especially with improved health care systems and living conditions that have seen a rise in life expectancy to an average of 50 years.
As we await findings of the parliamentary committee investigating the NSSF Temangalo land saga, we should propose a social security scheme for the elderly.
The writer is the minister of justice and constitutional affairs at the Makerere University Guild and research assistant at the Faculty of Law
A lot has been said about the Temangalo land that the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) purchased from security minister Amama Mbabazi. Whereas diverse opinions on the legality of the transaction have been expressed, whether or not the purchase was lawful should be left to the appropriate mechanisms.
However, it is a pity that rights of the elderly as regards social security have been ignored. It is not until one is 55 years that they can benefit from NSSF contributions. It is this group of persons over 60 years that is referred to as the elderly or senior citizens. They are the most affected persons by social security schemes like NSSF.
Whereas the Constitution recognises the elderly as one of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups that need to be protected under Article 33, more needs to be done in terms of affirmative action as stipulated under the same provision.
Although there has been remarkable progress with regard to protection of rights of other vulnerable groups like the youth and women, little has been done in regard to the elderly yet this group remains a major resource in culture, history and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
In most affected countries like South Africa, the elderly have been praised as the unsung heroes for this pandemic given the role they play both in nursing and taking care of orphans. In a number of African countries, most peace agreements have been brokered by this group of persons.
Pursuant to Article 33 of the Constitution, Parliament recently enacted the Equal Opportunities Act that significantly establishes the Equal Opportunities Commission. This commission is mandated to address issues of vulnerable groups to which the elderly belong.
Progress has also been made with formulation of a draft policy on the rights of the elderly. These steps are positive and in the right direction but they are likely to remain rhetoric if not complimented with strong advocacy aimed at informing these interventions.
Little attention is paid to the rights of the elderly by mainstream human rights organisations. They should realign their programmes to provide for advocacy and promotion of the rights of the elderly.
The Government should explore the possibility of setting up a national council and parliamentary representation for the elderly like other marginalised groups like women and the youth.
Given that access to health care is a compelling elusion in old age, the Government should introduce free medical care for the elderly. In addition, erotology (a study of the difficulties the aged go through) should be introduced in medical schools to build medical expertise with regard to health of these senior citizens.
Equally important is the need to involve the elderly in all interventions as opposed to paternalistic approaches.
The elderly are an important group that we can no longer afford to neglect.
As we chat a way forward for NSSF and other probable social security schemes, let us consider the elderly and their rights, especially with improved health care systems and living conditions that have seen a rise in life expectancy to an average of 50 years.
As we await findings of the parliamentary committee investigating the NSSF Temangalo land saga, we should propose a social security scheme for the elderly.
The writer is the minister of justice and constitutional affairs at the Makerere University Guild and research assistant at the Faculty of Law