Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Judith Ncube has challenged the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to revive home-based care programs to cater to the needs of senior citizens.
She said this while presenting a speech on behalf of the First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa who was expected to engage with the senior citizens in Old Pumula, on Sunday.
Mnangagwa, through her Angel of Hope Foundation has been visiting elderly people around the country donating to them.
Some of her chores such as cooking and sweeping were however conducted by the Minister of States for Provincial Affairs who visited some old people in the area.
Minister Ncube said the local authority should revive home-based care programs as they were benefitting local communities.
“I would like to challenge the City Council to revive the self-programs which helped our parents or lessened the burden to those caring for the sick,” said Min Ncube.
“In Bulawayo the health sector should have programs that will cater to senior citizens. There used to be home-based care programs in Bulawayo, there was never an illness at home without home-based care reaching out, such programs were commendable.”
Previously, clinics provided assistance to sick people directly at home through local community members who were supported by trained health workers.
However, with the collapse of the health system in the country, most clinics have ceased offering such programmes.
During the engagement, the elderly received food hampers and blankets among other basic commodities.
She also donated baby clothes to expecting mothers.
There was commotion during the food distribution process as hundreds of senior citizens who braved the scorching sun, jostled to receive their hampers.
