October 1st 2011 marked the celebrations for the older persons in Rwenzori region and specicifically in kyenjojo District. Since RIC-NET operates in this area, the staffs were among the thousands of participants who filled the District Headquarters grounds on Saturday to mark this day & also witness the launching of the Social Assistance Grant for the Elderly (SAGE) where the chief guest was the Vice president of the republic of Uganda
According to the program line up for the international day of older persons produced by the ministry of Gender, Labor and social Development
Older persons are defined as persons aged 60 years and above (Uganda national policy for older persons 2009)
Theme of the day
“Social protection a pre-requisite for empowerment of older persons’’
Ministry of gender, labor and social development is championing the development of a national social protection system that addresses the risks and vulnerabilities faced by the poorest groups of the population
With support from development partners as DFID, Irish Aid, UNICEF, the scheme provides cash grants to the chronically poor and vulnerable persons to enable them access basic needs as well as spur them to engage in other productive activities.
“In his speech the chief Guest, remarked that Government is determined to reduce income insecurity for older persons through programmes as SAGE, Functional adult literacy (FAL) among others, he also gave an example of countries as Brazil and South Africa that have adopted social protection in the National development program (senior citizens grants) these countries have shown that older persons basic needs are met, their incomes have increased and health catered for.
Kyenjojo District is among the pilot Districts for the cash transfers and the target sub counties for the moment are Bufunjo and Nyankwanzi.
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