UWAMAM enables elders in Magu understand, demand their rights

The old people in Magu district are now well informed of the National Ageing Policy of 2003. The awareness has been raised by the Umoja wa Wazee Magu Mjini – Association of the Elderly in Magu (UWAMAM).

UWAMAM provided training and conducted seminars on different government policies, including the National Aging Policy of 2003.

The elders were facilitated to understand a number of issues, including policies, constitution, ageing and elderly (being old and getting old), rights of the old persons and problems they face.

Enos Gululi, one of the beneficiaries of the trainings says that the seminars were quite beneficial in the sense that they helped him to understand about the policy issues, rights of old people and how to demand for their rights.

One of the immediate results of the training was old persons in the district starting to enjoy exemption from medical expenses; free medical services for the old people.

Also, the old persons have gained confidence and vigour to engage in    the development programmes.

The Training Coordinator, Mr. Paul Shepi has clarified that, before the project, the old people were not aware of the fact that they have the right to free medical services. But after the training, things have changed that the human and legal rights are respected.

The Foundation for Civil Society supported UWAMAM with Tshs 4,957,600/= to implement a project titled “Training on Elderly policy of 2003”, which started in January 2009 and ended in March 2009.