Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa has again stressed on the need for people to take care of the elderly at home and not give this privilege to government.
Vuniwaqa highlighted this today while speaking at the International Day of Older Persons celebrations at Ba Senior Citizen Office.
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa at the International Day of Older Persons celebrations at Ba Senior Citizen Office
She says the projections by UN Population Fund reveals that Fiji‘s older population is growing by 3,000 people per year and oldest old population which is 80 years of age and over is also expected to increase rapidly from 5,000 in 2010 to 28,500 by 2050.
She says this means that everyone has a huge responsibility to ensure that our senior citizens, who have given us so many reasons and means to live a prosperous life, get the best in their most vulnerable stage in life.
Vuniwaqa says that there is no bigger blessing than looking after our elders well and has urged Fijians to stake their claim to that privilege and teach children to respect, love and care for the elderly people in their lives.
Vuniwaqa told the senior citizens that government had also lowered the eligibility age for the Social Pension Scheme to 65 years of age as opposed to 70 years and government has also doubled the pension from $50.00 to $100.00 per month for beneficiaries as of last year.
She says in addition, every older person aged 60 plus qualifies to benefit from the 100% bus fare concession by the Fijian Government and the Fiji Bus Operators Association.
