An elderly woman waits for her children in the capital's Meanchey district. Hong Menea
Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on all relevant institutions to pay more attention to supporting the wellbeing of the elderly.
The call came in his September 20 audio address ahead of the International Day of the Elderly, which falls on October 1. Themed “Elderly people are an important legacy in developing families and society” this year, the day is observed globally to commemorate senior citizens all over the world.
Hun Sen said the day highlights the important role the elderly play in passing countless wisdom and experience down to the younger generations.
“In order to make a contribution to the wellbeing of the elderly, I urge the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation – and all committees and institutions at all levels – to increase their attention to ensuring the comfort of our respected elders,” he said.
The premier added that authorities should visit and support the elderly, especially those with disabilities and those suffering hardships.
He also advised professors and teachers in public and private educational institutions to provide students with a strong moral education so they preserve the Cambodian tradition of respecting and taking care of the eldest members of society.
The government, he added, considers the wellbeing of the elderly a crucial part of a healthy society.
“We consider National and International Day of the Elderly a day to commemorate the ancestors, parents, uncles and aunts who built and left legacies for this, and future, generations,” he said.
He noted that the government has set up a national committee to deal with the affairs of the elderly and implement the National Aging Policy 2017-2030. It has also launched several programmes aiming to improve the wellbeing of the elderly through its National Social Protection Policy Framework 2016-2025.
At the National Forum on Older People held on September 13, nearly 200 attendees – speaking on behalf of the elderly across the country – called on the government to give priority to providing them with social security to help them overcome health and income issues post-pandemic.
Tum Vira, executive director of HelpAge Cambodia – which co-organised the forum with OXFAM in Cambodia and UNDP in collaboration with the social affairs ministry – said that providing senior citizens with social security, no matter how small, is one of the most important steps in supporting their lives and wellbeing.
“Although the government has made great efforts to address the problems of the vulnerable – including the elderly – through various social assistance programmes, there are still needs that are yet to be addressed,” he said.
Ministry secretary of state Samheng Boros told The Post that although the national economy is still reeling from the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the government has paid close attention to the hardships of the people, in particular the impoverished and the elderly.
“Because there are limitations to the national budget, we must first ensure that we are providing assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable members of society. Some of them are faced with food insecurities, and so we must address their problems before we consider providing payments to the older members of middle income families,” he explained.
