DUSHANBE, April 24, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s Red Crescent Society (RCS) has joined AgeNet Eldercare – Central Asia Without Borders Network, Asia-Plus has learned from Madina Sayfiddinova, RCS public relations coordinator.
According to her, RCS joined the network at its annual meeting that was recently held in Kyrgyzstan.
“Membership of this organization will enable Tajikistan to use both international and regional experience in tackling problems facing elderly people in the republic,” said Sayfiddinova, “On ratification by Tajikistan of the Madrid International Plan, participation in the Network, in particular, allows Tajikistan strengthening protection of rights of elderly people, providing them with access to high-quality medicines and making their participation in the public life more active.”
The International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted at the first World Assembly on Ageing in Vienna in April 2002, has guided the course of thinking and action on ageing over the past 20 years, as crucial policies and initiatives evolved. Issues of human rights for older persons were taken up in 1991 in the formulation of the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, which provided guidance in the areas of independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity.
Sayfiddinova noted that “the first wave of increase in a number of elderly people who do not have relatives to support was reported in Tajikistan following the first outflow of Russian-speaking population from Tajikistan during the civil conflict in the country.” “That time, RCS had focused on providing social and humanitarian aid to elderly people, and more than 2,000 elderly people without relatives to support had been covered and another more than 7,000 people had received food aid,” she said.
According to her, the second increase in the number of elderly people without relatives to support them has been reported among the native population, whose children left the country seeking better employment opportunities in other CIS states.
“Membership of the AgeNet – Central Asia Without Borders network will also allow Tajikistan to implement interstate network projects aiming to improve living quality of elderly people,” Sayfiddinova said.
According to her, the gerontology network AgeNet was established by 35 organizations in five states of Central Asia for tackling social problems facing elderly people in the region.
