Expert decries rising abuse of old citizens

Head of Geriatrician and Consultant at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Dr Muhammad Dauda Haruna, has decried the increasing abuse of the elderly in Nigeria.

Haruna, who is also a family physician at the hospital, spoke on behalf of the Geriatric Department, yesterday, in commemoration of the World Elders Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), which is celebrated every June 15.

He said there is lack of awareness on the multifaceted abuse against elders in Nigeria, stressing that much attention is only placed on child abuse and infant-related issues.

According to him, elder abuse is any act either intentional or unintentional that can bring physical, emotional or psychological distress to an older person.

He highlighted the forms of abuse being faced by senior citizens to include pushing, pinching or kicking. Haruna observed: “Another form is financial abuse, when an elderly person is being cheated on or deprived of his financial rights.

Many older people have had their bank booklets stolen and their money siphoned by their relatives, just because they suffer health conditions. 

“Another terrible form is neglect. When they come to hospital or we visit, we normally notice any older person that has been neglected by their children or relatives. They are prone to cognitive impairment, they are now weak, they probably cannot do things on their own and their children have all neglected them. They defecate and urinate on themselves and these cause smell.

“Another important aspect is what we call Institutional Abuse, this normally comes when a retired person is being denied his retirement benefits and probably, different types of sickness set in. They need money to take care of themselves, but the same people who had laboured for years cannot be proud of access to good healthcare.”

The expert urged the government and other stakeholders to formulate policies targeted at reducing elder abuse. He said healthcare facilities should be bu Muhammad Dauda Harunailt to accommodate and be accessible to older and vulnerable people. 

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