TTARP: Take a stand against ageism

In a statement on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons, being observed on Saturday under the theme “Take a Stand Against Ageism,” TTARP reiterated its concern over Government’s recent discrimination against citizens, 50 years and over, from accessing the Government Assisted Tertiary Education (GATE) fund .

Ageism is discrimination on the basis of a persons’ age. On the denial of GATE funding, TTARP said, “This act is a violation of the World Health Assembly resolution of May 2016.” The May 2016 World Health Assembly of the World Health Organisation (WHO) resolution called on countries to “develop in co-operation with other partners, a global campaign to combat ageism and achieve the ultimate goal of enhancing the day to day experiences of older people and to optimise policy responses.” Another concern TTARP raised is the inhumane treatment of older persons at public institutions and private nursing homes across the country .

TTARP said that WHO research has shown that these discriminatory practices shorten the lives of senior citizens by some seven and a half years .

Congratulating senior citizens and its members for the valuable contributions they have made in all spheres of society, TTARP said, they “have moved our society through all stages of development and made us what we are today in terms of our social, economic, political, cultural and sporting achievements.” TTARP said that the provision of decent and dignified facilities must be provided to older persons considering they laboured under adverse conditions to provide the benefits, stability and standard of living now enjoyed by the young who will in time be older persons hoping for humane treatment in society .