Medical experts expressing their views in a seminar, as reported here have put the blame on changes in the Maldivian lifestyle which has led to widespread neglect of the elderly.
The director of local organisation Maldives Centre of Ageing (MCA), which organised the event, urged the Government to “strengthen the law” and “hold abusive family members to account”.
The Government is drafting a new policy to protect the country’s older citizens, as it always does from eradicating drugs to controlling violence.
This is an incredible situation in Maldives, a country that insists it must remain a 100 per cent Muslim country. Islam is a religion that calls for respect and care for parents and the elderly.
We tend to forget that the way we treat our parents, our children will treat us in the same fashion, because that's the role model we are presenting to them. "As you sow, so shall you reap."
Though the number of these cases may not be very high, the fact that such abuses do exist and continue to increase is an alarming social problem.
These elderly persons have raised children and contributed to society and deserve to live out their sunset years in dignity. It is up to their family to look after them with all their physical and mental deficiencies. The state should provide help and the support to the care givers who sometimes face very difficult predicaments. Maldives is rich enough to be able to look after the elderly without them becoming a burden on their families and society. While laws are necessary, the starting point is that we have to open up our hearts and become a caring society. Unless we do it out of love and compassion, no amount of laws can solve this problem.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
very important post. it's a sad truth that a lot of us neglect our parents & grand parents when we grow up, overlooking the time, energy & effort they invested in bringing us up. Maama Kaafa award was a significant endeavour in this regard. more of these might help but ultimately all we need to do is just show a little more love...
I wonder if it is the financial success or something else which has done this.
Hi shaari
Thank you for your comment.
Hi maldiveshealth
Thank you for the point you raised. When I titled my post, I knew it would evoke different emotions. Given our current dire social conditions, I think it is worth an introspection to find out how we have ended up where we are now.
Our GDP has increased making us the richest in the region, yet we do not have an equitable distribution of wealth. Politicians and public officials who drive the national agenda are motivated by greed to make more money and stay in power. Their talk is phony and no one believes them. Public interest is neglected and the country is being run by creating one crisis after another. Families are struggling to look after their parents and the elderly. Soon we will hear about introducing legislation to look after parents. This is pathetic and depressing.
What is your take on this?
I think that todays youth are struggling for an identity. They are very much lost. They do not know what to look forward to. They do not know who they are or what they should do or what they are supposed to do.
This includes the NGOs who are trying to be a voice for the protection of families,the elderly, the vulnerable and children.
Who is to blame? It is us.
Post a Comment