The wife of the governor of Abia State, Mrs Precillia Otti, has announced her support for the domestication of laws that protect the elderly people in the state.
She spoke an event organized by the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to commemorate International Day for Older Persons in Umuahia, the state capital.
Mrs Otti who emphasised the importance of prioritising the needs of seniors citizens in state and national interventions, pledged that the state government would ensure that elderly citizens receive a fair share of resources from both state and national programmes.
She highlighted the introduction of free healthcare services for indigent seniors as a way to express gratitude for their lifelong contributions to society, allowing them to enjoy their later years in good health.
She added that the office of the First Lady in conjunction with the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, intends to reach the vulnerable ones, while also establishing systems and programmes to reach out to as many elderly people as possible.
Mrs. Otti further promised to use the humanitarian aspect of her office to create more programmes that would benefit the most vulnerable among the elderly.
She used the opportunity to call on well meaning members of the society to reach out to the elderly ones among them, adding that government alone cannot do it.
Peoplesmind