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What happened in 2008?
The Sierra Leone Age Demands Action delegation was finalised, after a consultation and planning session with all organisations working with older people in Freetown.
Older people themselves put forward a list of asks at a session where they were invited to share their experiences.
The delegation attended a training workshop, which enabled them to put their requests to government officials eloquently and with confidence.
At the meeting, the delegation discussed the progress made so far in addressing the problems faced by older people and recommended that the government does the following:
- formulate a national policy to improve the welfare of older people
- increase pension payments for the working classes
- include older people in target groups for food distribution
- provide 500,000 ID cards for older people to enable them to access free medical treatment.
The meeting was a complete success, with the Ministry of Employment and Social Security recognising the need for a national policy on the welfare of older persons. A meeting was convened with other relevant ministries to form a steering committee to forumulate this national policy.
The delegation are hopeful that a national policy on the specific needs of older persons in Sierra Leone will result in more ministries considering older people in their poverty reduction strategies.
Highlights from 2007
Last year our partner organisation Current Evangelism Ministries (CEM) met with national government ministers. As a result, they are now working in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Social Security to promote the welfare of older people.
