By Godwin Dike, News/comments, Septemeber 6, 2019
UNILAG-The 2019 lecture of Oluwayemisi Obashoro Foundation, (OLOF) was held recently at the University of Lagos Chapel Of Light, Akoka, Lagos, with dignitaries in attendance- academic associates, friends, students and most especially, the elderlies across Lagos State, while the programme was chaired by Mr. Olanrewaju Bolu.
According to the Convener, Prof. Oluwayemisi Obashoro, a professor of Adult education, department of lifelong and continuing education, University of Lagos, said that, one of the purposes of the programme was to enlighten older people between the age of 60-65 and above, on why they should live a healthy life and take some measures.
According to her, the idea of OLOF, is to prepare people for retirement, then help those retiring and aging, and most importantly, those who have attained the age of 60-65 and above, and who, we refer to as senior citizens. Indeed, our aim is to assist them in their aging period, so that it become a lesser burden.
Continuing, she noted “For the past twelve years, the foundation has had several lectures on different themes that affects older people in the society especially on health, while solutions are been provided. The theme for this year’s lecture is respiratory problem, which comes in old age”. She advised older people to go for immunization, while effort would be put in place by the foundation, on a possible way of engaging the elderlies to get vaccines.
Prof. Obashoro, also admonished the society and government to give older people preference, good welfare package and better health care service delivery. She berated the attitude of the society and government towards the elderlies, hinting that government has not made meaningful provision for them. “But gradually, things will change for good. Older people should be given preference with care, and not to abandon them. I tell you, they still have a lot to offer this young-generation, and we must give them a chance. They can even be guidance in our Schools, and various places they have worked, so they are very useful” she stressed
Meanwhile, the guest speaker, Dr. Oghide Oziegbe, a Senior Registrar, at the department of family medicine, Lagos University teaching hospital, Idi-Araba, who spoke on a theme “respiratory problems in later age” said: “basically the elderly or geriatric age group, above the age of sixty are prone to several health challenges, termed to be the geriatric giants, which ranges from respiratory problems, visual, hearing problems and others. But our discussion basically is on the respiratory problem which ranges from pneumonia, COPD and even common flu. However, our focus is on how to prevent some of the problems, because elderly people have low immunity. And so, need not to engage in some health hazard habit, like smoking, or too much exposure to airborne diseases” Dr. Oziegbe, further said, that there are vaccines that can help the elderlies like pneumococcol and influenza vaccine, and advised them to avoid any hard activities capable of posing health challenges.
On his part, Chief Timothy Ayorinde Ore, President, Senior Citizens Association of Nigeria (SCAN), applauded the energetic stride of the Convener, noting that if the elderly are been taken care of, certainly, they will live longer in happiness. He said, already, efforts are been made to reach out to government on their need. “One day, most people will become elderly, and nobody can run away from it. Well, it is high time the elderly are left unaided, they are still productive”, he concluded. Highlight of the programme was the conferment of Senior Citizenship to Prof. Obashoro..
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