MEC for North West Department of Health and Social Development, Rebecca Kasienyane is to launch the "socio-economic empowerment programme" for the elderly as a way of celebrating the International Day for Older Persons.
The socio-economic empowerment programme is aimed at empowering the elderly in starting their own businesses or cooperatives that will uplift their socio-economic status.
The programme will also reflect the department's contribution towards millennium development goals as part of war on poverty. The aim of the celebration is to promote respect and dignity of older persons in society.
A symbolic handing over of a dummy cheque will be presented to Tirisano Service Club Poultry project owned by the elderly. Identified 10 vulnerable granny headed households in need of care will also receive attention in a form of domestic general cleaning of the houses and surroundings, basic home nursing care, physical hygiene interventions like bathing and dressing, health education, counseling, advice and support to affected family members.
The United Nations resolution 45/06 of December 1990 declared the 1 October as the International Day for Older Persons in recognition of the contributions made by the elderly in society.
The day is celebrated annually in the whole world. It is the day during which grandparents are honoured for the role they play in taking care of their grandchildren and also as breadwinners in granny headed households.
The Social Development is a lead department in the care and service for older persons to ensure protection and support of the elderly.
The Member of the Executive Council (MEC) of Social Development has a mandate to ensure inclusion of older persons through inter-sectoral collaborations wills all the sectors of government and communities.
The media is therefore invited to attend the event which will be held as follows:
Date: 12 October 2010
Time: 09h00
Venue: Morokweng sport ground, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district
NB: Please be advised that there will also be a media briefing at the end of the event on various social development issues.
Topics to be discussed during the briefing are as follows:
- Social Development Month
- Delayed payments of non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- Street kids, what is the department doing about the situation
- Financial injection to mass mobilise Early Childhood Development (ECD)
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
