The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has embarked on a campaign to promote healthy living among senior citizens as part of its Month of the Elderly initiative.
According to the Govern-ment Information Agency, Assistant Chief Probation and Social Services Officer Deendyal Singh is heading the campaign which will make use of infomercials in both the print and television media to promote healthy living for the elderly. The campaign will endorse a proper diet and regular exercise which is vital to aging with grace, he said.
Singh said “Guyana’s aging population can be described as a success story, a story of people living longer. The fact that people are living longer is due to better living standards and vastly improved medical facilities.” Over the years the number of centenarians has increased and the life expectancy rate is now 67. There are eight centenarians located from Lethem to Berbice. “We have people living beyond 100 years in this country and that is because they are health conscious. We appreciate that and we encourage them to continue to take care of themselves,” he added.
Many more seniors are accessing free primary health care services offered and they also benefit from the distribution of hampers and mini-concerts are planned for the month in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six to allow them to remain active members of the society. Other events planned for the month include a church service on October 17 at the Palms Geriatric Home; a day of outing on October 24 and the inmates will be ‘pampered’ on October 31 as a token of appreciation.
