CI-NEWS

MINAS campaigns and educates on healthy and active aging.

2020-07-28

No: 515

MINAS campaigns and educates on healthy and active aging.

By Fonban Emmanuel.

Souvenir picture after the campaign

The Ministry of Social Affairs of Cameroon has organized an awareness and education campaign on healthy and active aging to enable the old people in the country to get tips on how to live a healthy and active life.

This took place in the nation’s political capital, Yaounde on Tuesday, 21 July 2020 at the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities.

The campaign championed by the department of the Ministry responsible for Persons Living with Disabilities and the Old, saw the presence of the Inspector General at MINAS who was representing Minister Pauline Irene Nguene, the Director in Charge of the department, Angelica Bih ,Mundi and the representatives of old people and some related organizations.

The essence of the campaign was spelt out by the Director in Charge of Persons Living with Disabilities and the Old in the Ministry of Social Affairs.

“It is for older people, that is from 60 and above on how to live decent and healthy lives because at their age, it is problematic. Some feel that they have nothing to offer again. So, this campaign is to encourage them that even at 80 they are still active and their feeding habits are necessary to improve their lives as well” ,said the Director, Angelica Bih Mundi.

During the presentations, experts mirrored into some issues that affect old people and become a hindrance to healthy and active aging. They however, gave some tips on how the old can live healthily and active at their old age.

“The first tip is that for tobacco consumers, they should stop smoking or avoid areas where people smoke. Secondly, it is important to avoid pollution. If they are in an environment where air is not pure, where water is not safe, they have to avoid such environments and look for somewhere better” , said Pr Azantsa Kingue G. Boris of the J&A Oben Foundation in his presentation.

He reiterated the need to control what old people eat and ensure their diet is balanced. He also advised on physical activities and sanitary practices while recommending that the old should stay out of stress and remain happy every time.

The content of the campaign was lauded by participants who benefitted from the presentations by experts. Ambe Nforsi Veronica is the founder of an organization called LOVE WITHOUT BORDERS which works to improve on the productivity of the old and also ensure they are stress-free. She was a participant and after the campaign she spoke to the media.

“From this seminar, I have learned a lot on how to take care of them. We have to make them know that they are the most important people that can help us to help take care of them. How do we do so? It’s by teaching them that eating or drinking too much or even smoking because they feel cold is dangerous. In our groups we help them at times go to the farm, give them seeds to plant and in some we buy chicks for them to feed often just to make them feel useful to the society. By so doing it gives them a healthy and productive old age,” she said.

Closing the campaign by the Inspector General at MINAS who represented the Minister, Fon Asongtia Foreke Valentine said the campaign is part of the activities of the Ministry of Social Affairs especially as it is the mission of MINAS to ensure the welfare of the old in Cameroon.

The I.G at MINAS, before giving his last words, said it is within the capacity of MINAS to reinforce and intensify preventive measures to help out the old from health threats like COVID-19 pandemic.

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MINAS campaigns and educates on healthy and active aging.