By Omolara Omosanya
Government at all levels in Nigeria have been advised to establish day care centres for the elderly to give the senior citizens more chances to socialize with their peers and remedy the isolation and loneliness many of them experience.
The Director, Into Skills For Care and Care Academy, Ms Titilayo Shonubi gave the advice during the weekend in Lagos during the graduation of over one hundred Nigerians and other Africans who have been trained in fifteen Care standards by the academy.
Ms Shonubi who explained that she had been running a free Day care centre for the elderly prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, described the habit of leaving many senior citizens at home idle, while their family members go off to work as detrimental to the wellbeing of the elderly and said that her Academy is willing to partner with government to set up community day care centres for the elderly.
“The government should look into setting up centres for the elderly where they can go and have a good day and go back to their homes”.
“If the government are willing to set up care homes where the elderly that are vulnerable, some of them do have children, some have been abandoned by their children, where they can be looked after, I am willing to volunteer for the project”.
She urged Nigerians intending to relocate abroad, especially those who will be taking advantage of the UK health care recruitment scheme to prepared to work hard to gain the maximum benefits of the scheme and to avoid tarnishing the image Nigeria.
“It’s not a loss to Nigeria that people are relocating, it is a blessing to the country, because we be transferring money and looking after those we left back at home”.
“I have been in the UK since 1986, I work as a financial controller for eighteen year no criminal record, I have been in the health sector for fourteen year now, no criminal record, anyone can do it, if you remember your family back home and the nation Nigeria, there is this stigma we need to remove, let us change that mind set and give Nigeria a good name”.
Speaking in a similar vein, a Lagos High court Judge, Justice Sherifat Sholebo cautioned those intending to travel out of the Country to be sincere while filling forms.
“The British don’t want lies, once you fill your form and you lie and you don’t remember what you filled in Nigeria it becomes a problem”.
On his part, a top Director at one of the International Airliners operating in the Country, Mr Toyin Alaran advised those intending to relocate abroad to be fully prepared for the culture shock and be ready to adapt to the different ways of life there.
Experts, including an immigration lawyer were on ground to educate the graduands, while the highlight of the event was the presentation of Care Certificates to those trained.
