With their age and weakness in their bodies which makes them unable to help themselves, solitude is a bigger challenge for the elderly and dogs their last days in the world.
This coupled with other challenges they share with the rest of the vulnerable groups, calls for the need to support them to help get out of solitude and live happily their last days.
“With my age, there are some things that I cannot do on my own and need someone to help me,” Pascal Ntakirutimana, 70 from Kinyinya in Nyarugenge district- Kigali told this website on Thursday.
Although the government together with other partners has moved in to put in place programs to help the elderly and other vulnerable persons, the challenge of loneliness still looms.
Most of these older persons lost their families during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi this leaving them with no close relatives to stay with, despite the fact that they can access basic needs.
“Most of them lost their families and lived alone for a long time. They always need help so they can keep hope,” Emmanuel Mbonigana, the Executive Secretary of Kayenzi Sector in Kamonyi noted.
He noted that Genocide widows in the sector who can no longer live alone would be put together in a house that was donated by Airtel Rwanda.
Indeed, Dr Alvera Mukabaramba, State Minister in Charge of Community Development and Social Affairs in a statement at the international day of elderly on October 1, said communities need to support older person to get rid of solitude.
“Let’s thank everyone who takes care of the older persons but we also appeal to our community and family members to prevent them from loneliness,” she said.
She said that there are different uncomplicated things communities and family members can do to help the older persons to avoid loneliness.
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