By Flata Kavinga
The Redcliff Constituency Senior Citizens Association has called for improved support and greater awareness of services available to older persons, saying many senior citizens are still unaware of benefits they are entitled to under the law.
In an interview, the association’s welfare officer, Juliet Govati, said the organisation was established to educate senior citizens about their rights and to advocate for improved access to essential services.
“We realised that we were missing out on benefits meant for senior citizens because we were not aware of what to do and whom to approach with our issues,” Govati said.
She said the association had also observed that some elderly people were not receiving quality service delivery and was advocating for better access to healthcare.
Govati said one of the association’s priorities was to raise awareness that senior citizens are entitled to free treatment at Government health institutions.
“Some of the senior citizens are not even aware that they can be treated for free at Government clinics and hospitals. It is our mandate to educate senior citizens on their rights and benefits as provided for in the Constitution,” she said.
She added that awareness campaigns had also helped inform elderly people that they are given priority at some banks and health facilities.
“In the past we used to see elderly people at the back of queues. These days, even at clinics, we are served first,” she said.
Govati said the association was also educating members about transport concessions offered by some long-distance bus operators to people aged 70 years and above.
She said the association had engaged the Municipality of Redcliff to seek relief measures for elderly residents, including reduced rates and charges.
Among the proposals submitted to the local authority are reduced water tariffs for senior citizens, lower council rates and the provision of a burial site where elderly people without family support would not be required to pay burial fees.
Govati said high municipal charges were placing a heavy burden on many older residents, particularly those without pensions or other reliable sources of income.
She also appealed to local authorities and the Department of Social Services to prioritise senior citizens when distributing donations and other forms of assistance.
“We pray that the needs and issues concerning the elderly will be considered,” she said.
