KUWAIT: The Elderly Care Committee of the Hawally health zone, part of the Ministry of Health commemorated National Day for the Elderly yesterday at the Society Development Center in Al-Zahra. A religious lecture, medical lecture, blood sugar testing session were held on the sidelines of the event. The National Day for the Elderly honors individuals belonging to this age group. "These senior citizens are our fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers. They struggled and sacrifice to offer a respectful life for their children. So we should show them respect and appreciation," said Dr Abdulaziz Al-Farhoud, Head of the Hawally zone.

The United Nations also observes an International Day of Older Persons, "This day aims to highlight this importance of society. So, different countries organize various activities including social and rehabilitation services provided for the elderly," he added. Islam asks the faithful care for their parents especially when they are aging, "So, if respect is necessary for the elderly, it is even a priority for parents. Care is not limited to providing them with food and drink. Therefore, the moral aspect s
hould be taken into consideration," Al-Farhoud added,

Senility is not a withdrawal from active life. It is a phase in human life that is affected by social, psychological, and cultural factors. We must help these elderly to re- integrate them with the society. They are a basic part of the society, and without them, we would not have reached our present situation," he noted. There are about 600 million elderly persons who have crossed the age of 65 all over the world. This number will increase to 1.2 billion people in 2025, "Before many years, the Kuwaiti government cared for this category by issuing laws and legislation to ensure the health, social, and other life needs of the elderly," he pointed out.

The Ministry of Health formed the Elderly Care Program Committee many years ago, which organizes different activities, "It's main achievements were the Old Generation Clinics located across medical centers that provide complete prevention, cure, social, and psychological services for the elderly. Also, in public hospitals, outpatient clinics were added. In the Hawally health zone, a sub-committee will be formed soon. It will include officials from different specializations," stressed Al-Farhoud. Other gov
ernment bodies serve the elderly, "The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) plays a great role in serving the elderly. They also provide all kinds of health, social, and psychological services for the elderly people. The Non Profit Organizations and charity organizations support charitable activities including those for elderly," he concluded.

The population of the aged has increased due to advancements made in health care, "Currently there are 35,085 Kuwaiti senior citizens in the country. In the United States, 20 percent of the population consists of elderly people. The Ministry of Health has charted out a plan in two phases. The first includes health centers. One center will be built in every area. Personal electronic files will be maintained for each patient. The second is in the form of outpatient clinics," stated Dr Amal Al-Suqobi, Head of the Elderly Care Committee. Shaikh Saleh Al-Nahaam addressed a religious lecture about the importance of caring for parents. They recollected real life incidents on parents and disobedient children. - Kuwait Times