Alleviating the agonies of old age
2008-11-15
By Perege Gumbo
The respect Malawi`s elderly once enjoyed in the society is being soured by the twin pressures of poverty and HIV/AIDS, according to a recent report, and the government is introducing social grants to alleviate the burden they carry.
In the past, the elderly in Malawi used to depend on the economic and social support of their children and the community. With increased socio-economic difficulties and changing family ties, children fail to look after their ageing parents,`` says the Social Protection and Ageing in Malawi report, by Zifa Kazeze, formerly of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). ``Similarly, communities are failing to provide for the needs of the elderly. The plight of the elderly is made worse with the direct and indirect effects of HIV and AIDS.``
The plight of the elderly A 2003 study by the development ministry and the University of Malawi found out that although most people viewed the elderly in a positive light, some regarded them as witches or wizards, while 48 percent of respondents knew about or had heard of some abuse of old people.
"If you look at statistics, a majority of people who have been accused of witchcraft are women – and not men. In general, women are historically more vulnerable to violence due to their traditionally subordinate position in most cultures. " Mwakasungura says elderly people were also being abandoned by their children, who migrated from the rural areas to live and work in the towns and cities and did not remit money.
Abridged
SOURCE: The Guardian
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