Representative of 40 associations for the elderly have launched a campaign to seek support for the elderly. The campaign, which runs through April, focuses on “Joining together to improve the welfare of the elderly in the context of Covid-19” and aims to support 2,156 elderly people in their communities.
HelpAge Cambodia said in an April 5 press statement that representatives of the associations in the capital and four provinces of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, and Kampong Thom had joined the campaign.
It said the campaign was led by locals from each of the targeted communities, and aimed to bring people’s attention to the health problems of senior citizens.
The campaign will cooperate with health centres and local authorities to provide health education and primary health check services to elderly citizens with health problems or those who had difficulties accessing treatment or Covid-19 vaccinations.
According to a late 2018 report by the National Institute of Social Affairs – entitled “Needs and challenges faced by the elderly in Cambodia” – most of the population aged 60 and above, and especially women, were more vulnerable and at higher risk for non-communicable diseases such as arthritis, high blood pressure or diabetes. The diseases made it difficult for them to carry out their daily activities.
The report suggested that about 22 per cent of them suffered high blood pressure, and that up to 59 per cent of the health problems could lead to disabilities.
Vira Tum, executive director of HelpAge Cambodia, told The Post on April 5 that the main purpose of the campaign was to highlight the needs of the elderly who develop health problems. They wanted the government, the Ministry of Health and authorities to consider this, and issue them ID Poor equity cards which would entitle them to free healthcare.
“From this campaign, we expect two results. We expect improved access for the elderly to preventive health care services, and we expect to raise awareness and receive support from local authorities, especially health officials,” he said.
Vira Tum hoped the government will address the needs of this section of society or at least assess whether it could do more to prioritise them.
“We are a non-profit that has worked with the aged for 28 years. We are very aware of the national programmes that help the elderly – but there is not yet a specific national programme for them. I think if the authorities issued ID Poor cards to the most venerable members of our society, it would be significant step forward,” he said.
He offered the government’s cash handout programme as an example – it had helped many people, including some of the elderly, but it was not aimed at them specifically.
In late 2017, the Cambodian government launched its Action Plan 2018-2020 of the National Ageing Policy 2017-2030 to improve the welfare of the elderly in Cambodia.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Veterans said the National Committee for the Elderly had recently held a third inter-ministerial consultation on the preparation of the second phase (2021-2025) of the policy.
According to the 2019 census, the number of elderly people in Cambodia was more than 1.3 million, or about 8.9 per cent of the total population.
