Date: 01/10/2003
Source: Department of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: International Day for Older Persons
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG: INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR OLDER PERSONS, 1 October 2003
Greetings
We are here today to celebrate the International Day for Older Persons with you, the older persons of the Northern Cape. The theme for this year's International Day for Older Persons is "older people - a new power for development". But why a new power?
A demographic revolution is underway throughout the world. It is estimated that there are around 600 million persons aged 60 years and over in the world and this number is expected to increase by 2025 and will probably reach two billion by 2050. The vast majority of them are in developing countries including South Africa. This is caused mainly by intervention that have improved life expectancy and lower fertility amongst younger generations.
There is now a realisation in the world that older persons are an asset and a resource that contributes to the development our society. Older people increasingly play a critical role - through volunteer work, transferring experience and knowledge, and their participation in the community affairs.
But these people can only make this contribution if their health and total well-being are catered for. As the number of people aged 60 or more increases, we begin to see a shift in the pattern of diseases.
Chronic illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension, cancer musculoskeletal and depression are increasingly becoming major causes of disability and mortality. An additional challenge for us in Africa and other developing countries is that we have to face these increasing chronic diseases while at the same time grappling with major infectious diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
In most instances, these chronic diseases can be prevented or at least delayed. This is dependent on the implementation of appropriate policies that promote health and prevent diseases. These interventions include encouraging individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles, good nutrition and being physically active.
As a country we are intensifying the implementation of these policies. The number of smokers for instance is decreasing because of effective tobacco control measures including prohibition of tobacco promotion and adverting, banning of smoking in public places and increasing taxes on tobacco products. We are strengthening our interventions on alcohol to protect our people from health and social problems of alcohol abuse. To counter one-sided promotion of alcohol as recreational product, we are developing messages that highlight the dangers of alcohol dependency and protect our youth from alcohol abuse.
Our campaign for good nutrition is also gaining momentum. As from next week Tuesday the 7th of October, all our millers will be obliged to add additional vitamins and nutrients on all maize meal and wheat flour that is produced in South Africa. This will ensure that even if people cannot afford a healthy or balanced diet, they can get the necessary micronutrients through fortification of these basic staple foods. So, buy maize meal and bread with a logo: "fortified for better health". This is going to help address many problems of micronutrients deficiency and enable our people to lead healthier lives because at the end, we are what we eat.
As we celebrate the 25th year since primary health care approach was adopted (at the Alma Ata conference), we should empower our clinics and community health centres to promote health and prevent or manage diseases at older ages. Our institutions should be "age-friendly". For instance, we should ensure that we maintain the stock of medicine for chronic illnesses affecting old people. There is no reason that our grandparents should come more than once to a health facility to collect their medicine because Government has made most of these medicines available. As health workers, we need to develop efforts that prevent and detect abuse and neglect of older people.
If we are fortunate to live to an old age, we will need the support and special attention of our community. There is no doubt that older persons can contribute in many spheres if they have access to appropriate opportunities. We must ensure that there is no discrimination or prejudice against older persons and that the dignity of each person is respected. Our goal must be a wholesome society characterised by intergenerational dependence and solidarity.
Government strives to have the necessary policies in place to create an appropriate environment for our older persons, which will enable us to reach the goals identified in the United Nations Principles for Older Persons. These principles are independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity:
We are improving social support for older people including a standard old-age pension grant of R700 per month. Our home-based care programme provides support for old people with debilitating diseases including food parcels and basic medication. What is critical is that every old person should have an identity document in order to access these services. ID's will also enable you to vote and participate in decision-making in this country. I do not have to remind of the times when you grew up in a society where many of you were not allowed to elect your own government and take your own decisions.
This government respects the right of older people to live in dignity and a secure environment that is free of exploitation and abuse. We are committed to protect your right to fair treatment irrespective of your economic contribution. We know that adequate and nutritious food, health and social care and a secure physical environment are critical to protect you from abuse, rain and cold and other bad conditions.
However, we strongly believe that at the end, your wisdom and experience in surviving many years of oppression will help us to eradicate our current problems including poverty and legacy of lack of access to basic services including water and sanitation, housing and adult education.
We are here therefore to celebrate your contribution to the well being of your families, communities and the South African society as a whole. We thank you for being the source of knowledge on culture and values and for a rich heritage of survival skills you bring to us. We thank you for your unselfish giving of yourself to the community. We thank you for caring for your sick children, grandchildren and others less fortunate than yourselves.
We are also here to commit ourselves, as a government and people of South Africa, to assist every older person to live life free of abuse and violence. We are determined to protect you from various forms of discrimination in all areas of life. We undertake to help you access all services that government is making available to you.
To all older persons in South Africa, we salute you!
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)
Source: Department of Health
Title: Tshabalala-Msimang: International Day for Older Persons
SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, DR MANTO TSHABALALA-MSIMANG: INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR OLDER PERSONS, 1 October 2003
Greetings
We are here today to celebrate the International Day for Older Persons with you, the older persons of the Northern Cape. The theme for this year's International Day for Older Persons is "older people - a new power for development". But why a new power?
A demographic revolution is underway throughout the world. It is estimated that there are around 600 million persons aged 60 years and over in the world and this number is expected to increase by 2025 and will probably reach two billion by 2050. The vast majority of them are in developing countries including South Africa. This is caused mainly by intervention that have improved life expectancy and lower fertility amongst younger generations.
There is now a realisation in the world that older persons are an asset and a resource that contributes to the development our society. Older people increasingly play a critical role - through volunteer work, transferring experience and knowledge, and their participation in the community affairs.
But these people can only make this contribution if their health and total well-being are catered for. As the number of people aged 60 or more increases, we begin to see a shift in the pattern of diseases.
Chronic illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension, cancer musculoskeletal and depression are increasingly becoming major causes of disability and mortality. An additional challenge for us in Africa and other developing countries is that we have to face these increasing chronic diseases while at the same time grappling with major infectious diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
In most instances, these chronic diseases can be prevented or at least delayed. This is dependent on the implementation of appropriate policies that promote health and prevent diseases. These interventions include encouraging individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles, good nutrition and being physically active.
As a country we are intensifying the implementation of these policies. The number of smokers for instance is decreasing because of effective tobacco control measures including prohibition of tobacco promotion and adverting, banning of smoking in public places and increasing taxes on tobacco products. We are strengthening our interventions on alcohol to protect our people from health and social problems of alcohol abuse. To counter one-sided promotion of alcohol as recreational product, we are developing messages that highlight the dangers of alcohol dependency and protect our youth from alcohol abuse.
Our campaign for good nutrition is also gaining momentum. As from next week Tuesday the 7th of October, all our millers will be obliged to add additional vitamins and nutrients on all maize meal and wheat flour that is produced in South Africa. This will ensure that even if people cannot afford a healthy or balanced diet, they can get the necessary micronutrients through fortification of these basic staple foods. So, buy maize meal and bread with a logo: "fortified for better health". This is going to help address many problems of micronutrients deficiency and enable our people to lead healthier lives because at the end, we are what we eat.
As we celebrate the 25th year since primary health care approach was adopted (at the Alma Ata conference), we should empower our clinics and community health centres to promote health and prevent or manage diseases at older ages. Our institutions should be "age-friendly". For instance, we should ensure that we maintain the stock of medicine for chronic illnesses affecting old people. There is no reason that our grandparents should come more than once to a health facility to collect their medicine because Government has made most of these medicines available. As health workers, we need to develop efforts that prevent and detect abuse and neglect of older people.
If we are fortunate to live to an old age, we will need the support and special attention of our community. There is no doubt that older persons can contribute in many spheres if they have access to appropriate opportunities. We must ensure that there is no discrimination or prejudice against older persons and that the dignity of each person is respected. Our goal must be a wholesome society characterised by intergenerational dependence and solidarity.
Government strives to have the necessary policies in place to create an appropriate environment for our older persons, which will enable us to reach the goals identified in the United Nations Principles for Older Persons. These principles are independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity:
We are improving social support for older people including a standard old-age pension grant of R700 per month. Our home-based care programme provides support for old people with debilitating diseases including food parcels and basic medication. What is critical is that every old person should have an identity document in order to access these services. ID's will also enable you to vote and participate in decision-making in this country. I do not have to remind of the times when you grew up in a society where many of you were not allowed to elect your own government and take your own decisions.
This government respects the right of older people to live in dignity and a secure environment that is free of exploitation and abuse. We are committed to protect your right to fair treatment irrespective of your economic contribution. We know that adequate and nutritious food, health and social care and a secure physical environment are critical to protect you from abuse, rain and cold and other bad conditions.
However, we strongly believe that at the end, your wisdom and experience in surviving many years of oppression will help us to eradicate our current problems including poverty and legacy of lack of access to basic services including water and sanitation, housing and adult education.
We are here therefore to celebrate your contribution to the well being of your families, communities and the South African society as a whole. We thank you for being the source of knowledge on culture and values and for a rich heritage of survival skills you bring to us. We thank you for your unselfish giving of yourself to the community. We thank you for caring for your sick children, grandchildren and others less fortunate than yourselves.
We are also here to commit ourselves, as a government and people of South Africa, to assist every older person to live life free of abuse and violence. We are determined to protect you from various forms of discrimination in all areas of life. We undertake to help you access all services that government is making available to you.
To all older persons in South Africa, we salute you!
Source: Department of Health (http://www.doh.gov.za)
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