CurrentReport Blog In a significant move towards enhancing the care for senior citizens, the Federal Government has announced the creation of at least 37,000 jobs in the geriatric care industry. This initiative is spearheaded by the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSSC), as revealed by the Director-General, Emem Omokaro, during an interview in Abuja on Sunday. The announcement coincides with President Bola Tinubu’s first anniversary in office.
Emem Omokaro highlighted the achievements of the NSSC over the past year, noting the establishment of a comprehensive caregiving system tailored to the needs of older adults. “What we have before now is that older persons are left to anybody that is available in the family; it does not matter whether the person knows anything about older age care and multimorbidity,” she explained.
The newly developed system aims to professionalize geriatric care, integrating it as a crucial skill within health and social care sectors. This approach ensures that caregivers are adequately trained to handle the complexities associated with aging and various health conditions that commonly affect the elderly.
The creation of these 37,000 jobs is expected to address the rising demand for specialized care for the aging population, offering employment opportunities while significantly improving the quality of life for senior citizens. This initiative is part of the broader agenda of the Tinubu administration to build robust social support systems and enhance public health infrastructure.