Namibia's elderly 'drowning in debt'
Elderly people neglect their own needs to provide for those of their grandchildren.
Many of Namibia's elderly are "drowning in debt" taking care of their grandchildren who are placed in their care by their biological children and extended family.According to a report by the Programme for Older Persons and Community Care in Namibia, two-thirds of older persons live in households that include several generations.
The report investigated the various forms of care available to senior citizens in Namibia.
Associate Professor Janet Ananias explained that pension money (N$1 600 per month) should be stretched further to cover the costs of households in the absence of adequate allowances for children.
This serious concern and issue was raised during a community meeting that was part of the investigation.
"There are high levels of food insecurity and some elderly people even prioritise giving food to children," Ananias says.
According to the report, there are more than 200 000 elderly people in Namibia, an increase of 40% over the last decade.
Many struggle to access services due to issues with mobility compounded by the high cost of transport. Furthermore, 51% of the elderly in Namibia have diabetes.
A registered nurse from the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) expressed her frustration during a public discussion about the report, saying that nine out of ten other nurses who do outreach cannot fully help patients. This is because some conditions require help from doctors who do not attend the outreach programmes. This, she says, forces elderly patients to spend about N$600 to travel to clinics in Windhoek for basic examinations.
She called on the ministry to implement a standard procedure that gives nurses the power to give prescriptions and treat patients, thereby reducing the need for expensive trips to Windhoek.
The MoHSS in turn refers to the national policy for the rights, protection and care of the elderly in Namibia, with emphasis on, among other things, the acceptance and assurance of access to health systems, the facilitation of health care, as well as the development of long-term care systems.