This is indeed good news for the elderly people in Jigawa State, as Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, on Thursday approved the release of over ₦344 million for the implementation of the Elderly Care Programme aimed at improving the welfare of senior citizens across the state.
Namadi, who made this disclosure on Thursday while launching the Jigawa State Old Age Social Protection Scheme at the Dutse Local Government Secretariat, said the initiative will provide monthly cash transfers, free healthcare services, and psychosocial support to promote the well-being and dignity of older persons in the state.
The governor added that the programme signposts the completion of the state’s life-cycle approach to social protection, complementing existing interventions that target pregnant and lactating mothers, as well as children under the age of five.
“The life-cycle framework ensures that no segment of society is left behind. It promotes dignity, equity, and access to essential services for all, especially the vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our communities,” the governor stated.
According to him, under the first phase of the scheme, each of the 287 political wards in the state will have 20 beneficiaries, making a total of 5,740 elderly persons to benefit.
Namadi explained that the Jigawa State Rehabilitation Board will oversee the cash transfer component, while the Jigawa State Contributory Health Insurance Management Agency (JICHMA) will handle the free healthcare services.
The governor added that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will coordinate long-term care, including home visits, counselling, and psychosocial support to promote healthy and active ageing.
