Speakers at a discussion here on Tuesday said the state should take
total responsibilities of all older persons to pay due honour to them.
The elderly people contributed their maximum in earning our
independence through the War of Liberation and the grateful nation
must arrange everything for their peaceful living and relieving them
of helplessness, they said.
The speakers were addressing a discussion organised by ‘Swajan’, a
human rights group working for welfare of the elderly people in
observance of the International Day of Older Persons-2013 at its
Keranipara office in the city.
With senior vice-president of Swajan Kazi Mohammad Junnon in the
chair, Vice-president Advocate Shameema Alkhter Shirin and General
Secretary Advocate Kohinoor Begum addressed the occasion, among
others.
The speakers elaborated the problems including carelessness,
uncertainly and negligence being faced by the elderly citizens and the
present inadequate supports for ensuring their welfare.
They called upon the state as well as the government to ensure safe
and peaceful living, medicare and other necessary facilities for the
elderly citizens and setting up of old homes in every upazila.
They opined for introducing elderly citizen card for all older persons
to provide them with state facilities, keep reserved seats in all
public transports, hospitals and launch long-term savings and bond
projects along with providing them various jobs.
Chief Executive Officer of RCC Ruhul Amin Khan formally launched the
weeklong de-worming programme by administering a de-worming tablet to
a child as the chief guest at the ceremony.
Civil Surgeon Dr Reajul Islam, Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr Mozammel
Hossain, Sadar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Shamsul
Haque, RCC Councilors Mahbubar Rahman Manju and Shahjalal Karim Bakul,
RCC Health Inspector Masud-Ur-Rahman and Headmaster of the
kindergarten school Shawkat Ali were present.
The speakers stressed on preventing higher rate of worm infections
among school-going children, through creating awareness and ensuring
intake of de- worming tablets twice a year to avoid malnutrition.
They suggested for making the schoolchildren aware about the health
and hygiene factors. Besides, children should be provided knowledge on
importance of good hand washing technique before meals to achieve the
set goals of the programme and prevent the spread of all communicable
diseases. -UNB, Rangpur
