A call for the establishment of geriatric wards within the country’s health system to cater to the complex needs of elderly people has been made.
Health Care Givers Association of Zambia Executive Director Richard Nkunika, delivering his speech during a National Geriatric Care Dinner held at a local hotel in the capital yesterday, said such establishments would help in offering specialized health care to the elderly.
He also urged the government to create out patients’ departments for the elderly within health centres, where the aged get medical checkups.
Nkunika thanked President Hakainde Hichilema for his leadership, which places more emphasis on geriatric care in the country.
Speaking at the same event, Health Care Givers Association of Zambia Board Chairman Humphrey Monde (pictured) highlighted the importance of geriatric healt care, saying ageing is a journey for every living human being whether they like it or not.
Geriatric care in Zambia is primarily home-based, focusing on assisting the elderly with daily activities, medication management, and mobility support due to limited formal facilities.
The majority of the elderly in Zambia live in poverty, particularly in rural areas, and face significant challenges with access to healthcare and lack of a financial safety net.
Services in urban areas like Lusaka are evolving to include specialized, professional, and compassionate in-home care, especially for dementia, to support families.
However, 83% of elderly households live in poverty, making access to care a significant challenge.
In Zambia, the concept of old people’s homes dates back as far as the pre independence era, when such homes were for non-Africans.
The first home to be established was Mitanda Home in Ndola on the Copperbelt Province, which was established in 1948 when a former army mess was turned into a governmental hostel for older persons after the Second World War.
In September 1963, Chibolya Home in Mufulira also on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia was established to look after destitute white older persons who were left without support and care.
The home was opened by the Rhodesian Government and was run by the Department of Social Welfare of that government. The two homes; Mitanda and Chibolya, were only opened to Africans after independence.
On institutional programming, the Ministry runs two homes, namely Maramba Old People’s Home in Livingstone and Chibolya Old People’s Home in Mufulira. The department also recognizes other homes and supports them through grants. These are Divine Providence in Lusaka, St.
Theresa in Ndola, Chibote in Luanshya all run by the Catholics, Mitanda in Ndola run by the Salvation Army, Mwandi in Sesheke run by the United Church of Zambia, Nkhulumazhiba in Sowelzi by Peace Embassy International (Pentecostal Church).
On one hand, the Ministry promotes non-institutional care as this enables older persons to grow actively within mainstream society and allows for the general populace to tap into the talents and wisdom of the elderly. On the other hand, the Ministry is also cognizant of the challenges that older persons face in society, and ageing has been included as a criterion on some social protection programmes.
In Zambian culture, it’s common for elderly people to move in with their family or extended family when they are unable to care for themselves. But not everyone has family, and not all families have the capacity to house and care for their elders.
These older people can be left homeless, destitute, and struggling to stay healthy and fend for themselves. Volunteers provide vital assistance at elderly care facilities and can make a meaningful difference to the quality of life of older people who live there.
call made for the establishment of geriatric wards within health centres in Zambia
A call for the establishment of geriatric wards within the country’s health system to cater to the complex needs of elderly people has been made.
Health Care Givers Association of Zambia Executive Director Richard Nkunika, delivering his speech during a National Geriatric Care Dinner held at a local hotel in 7the capital yesterday, said such establishments would help in offering specialized health care to the elderly.
He also urged the government to create out patients’ departments for the elderly within health centres, where the aged get medical checkups.
Nkunika thanked President Hakainde Hichilema for his leadership, which places more emphasis on geriatric care in the country.
Speaking at the same event, Health Care Givers Association of Zambia Board Chairman Humphrey Monde highlighted the importance of geriatric healt care, saying ageing is a journey for every living human being whether they like it or not.
Geriatric care in Zambia is primarily home-based, focusing on assisting the elderly with daily activities, medication management, and mobility support due to limited formal facilities.
The majority of the elderly in Zambia live in poverty, particularly in rural areas, and face significant challenges with access to healthcare and lack of a financial safety net.
Services in urban areas like Lusaka are evolving to include specialized, professional, and compassionate in-home care, especially for dementia, to support families.
However, 83% of elderly households live in poverty, making access to care a significant challenge.
In Zambia, the concept of old people’s homes dates back as far as the pre independence era, when such homes were for non-Africans.
The first home to be established was Mitanda Home in Ndola on the Copperbelt Province, which was established in 1948 when a former army mess was turned into a governmental hostel for older persons after the Second World War.
In September 1963, Chibolya Home in Mufulira also on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia was established to look after destitute white older persons who were left without support and care.
The home was opened by the Rhodesian Government and was run by the Department of Social Welfare of that government. The two homes; Mitanda and Chibolya, were only opened to Africans after independence.
On institutional programming, the Ministry runs two homes, namely Maramba Old People’s Home in Livingstone and Chibolya Old People’s Home in Mufulira. The department also recognizes other homes and supports them through grants. These are Divine Providence in Lusaka, St.
Theresa in Ndola, Chibote in Luanshya all run by the Catholics, Mitanda in Ndola run by the Salvation Army, Mwandi in Sesheke run by the United Church of Zambia, Nkhulumazhiba in Sowelzi by Peace Embassy International (Pentecostal Church).
On one hand, the Ministry promotes non-institutional care as this enables older persons to grow actively within mainstream society and allows for the general populace to tap into the talents and wisdom of the elderly.
On the other hand, the Ministry is also cognizant of the challenges that older persons face in society, and ageing has been included as a criterion on some social protection programmes.
In Zambian culture, it’s common for elderly people to move in with their family or extended family when they are unable to care for themselves.
But not everyone has family, and not all families have the capacity to house and care for their elders.
These older people can be left homeless, destitute, and struggling to stay healthy and fend for themselves.
Volunteers provide vital assistance at elderly care facilities and can make a meaningful difference to the quality of life of older people who live there.