REPORT REGULATION OF AGEING POLICY AND AWERENESS RAISING CAMPAING HELD AT KILOSA ON _____________________________

1.0 INTRODUTION

The Tanzania ageing policy was established in 2003 to guide services provision to the elderly in order to mitigate a number of problems facing them which include:

Inadequate health services, pension, lack of older people participation in important decisions affecting National Development, HIV/AIDS, brutal killing of older people, older people women in particular.

However the National Ageing Policy is facing a number of shortcomings in the implementation because it lacks law legislation to address older people right and entitlements.

“The current Tanzania social and legal system does not provide adequate protection and security to older people as a special group”

Consequently older people have no access to their rights and entitlements they deserve from the government. An effective National Ageing Policy must be pronounced to stipulate clearly its focus on:

• Recognition of older people as resources
• Allocation of resources for older people’s Income Generation Activities (IGA) and their welfare.
• Creation of conducive environment for provision of basic services.
• Preparation of strategies and programs geared toward elimination of negative altitudes and age discrimination.

Regulation of the Ageing Policy and awareness raising among the older people and others stakeholder in demanding for their rights is imperatives in older to ensure that the older people right long life is rewarded, their voices heard and are leading dignified healthy and secure their lives

 

 

2.0 OBJECTIVES

The objective of the one day campaign is to raise the awareness of Kilosa district decision makers, older people themselves and other stakeholders on changes in legislation laws polices and practices to protect older people

3.0 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDES;

3.1 To train and raise awareness on the National Policy on Ageing

3.2 To identify gaps in NAP and practice and suggest solutions.

3.3 To provoc debates on the existing 1977 Tanzania Constitution and practices related to older people concerns

3.4 to motivate and encourage older people, CMT and media practitioners participations in the new constitution to ensure inclusion of Older People concerns

3.5 promotion, mainstreaming of older people’s issues through enforcement of councils implementation of older people’s right and entitlements

Laws and policies that include issues related to older people needs;

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights and constitution of Tanzania
• Human Right Organization report 2010
• Organization of older people reports 2010
• MKUKUTA

 

MKUKUTA sets the targets of 100% of eligible older people to access freed medication by 2010. Unfortunately the dissemination resourcing and implementation of the strategy remains patchy across the country.

• National Healthy Policy considers the need for provision of health services to older people although implementation faces constraints such as poor administrative structure and procedures bureaucratic hindrances and procedures, unavailability of proper medical services and medication.
• National Social Protection Framework includes universal protection for all older people but is not implemented so far.
• The National Ageing Policy 2003 is not regulated. However in 2010 NAP reviewed and a bill that provides legal framework for its implementation drafted passed by MPS signed by the presidents and tabled in the parliament in 2012. Hopefully to be proved in 2013.

TOPICS COVERED

• Meaning and concept of NAP
• National Ageing Policy and MKUKUTA statements on older people issues
• Rationale for enacting the policy
• The situation of older people in Tanzania
• Tanzania Social Aid Fung (TASAF)
• Inclusion of older peoples issues into District councils plans and budget
• Illustrated examples from others District Council Action Plans

CHALLENGES FACING OLDER PEOPLE.

• Poor access to health services
• Income poverty
• HIV and AIDS related challenges
• Dehumanization and brutal killings of Older People
• Universal Social Pension for all older people 60+ regardless of their status
• Discrimination of older people from government plans and budgets
• Lack of older people representative in decision making at all government levels
• Burdened with the difficulties of care for their (OVCS) dependants

 

AWARENESS RAISING

5.0 Proceedings of the workshop

5.1 The flow.

The flow of each topic took into account the following;

• Content of the topic
• Materials and facilitations methods applicable to the topic under presentation and allocated time

5.2 TIME

The session totaled nine (9) hours from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, punctuated by 30. 30 minutes tea breakfast and 1hr lunch time  

5.3 facilitation role cons;

• To present the overhead projected topics to the audiences step by steps
• To guide through the learning process to all key decision makers and moderate situation in the class, in other words, the facilitator was the stimulant of the learning situation and experience sharing among the participants
• To stimulates and motivate creativity and flow of ideas from the participants, the facilitator encouraged ideas flow from all participants
• To develop insight feelings of the key decision makers to positively respond to plight of older issues.

The facilitators presentation was characterized with brainstorming, groups discussion followed with plenary presentation by different groups comprised of participants representatives from older people forums, Council Management Team (CMT) MOREPEO, Older People themselves and media practitioners (both print and electronic)

Each of the groups participants reported to the plenary on it contribution into older people concerns.

• MOREPEO works effectively with Kilosa District Management Team on NAP statements implementations.
• ODFs have been established and OPMG elected and trained.
• District Focal Person have been appointed and actively tracking older people’s concerns, older people issues inclusion in Kilosa councils plans and budgeting
• MOREPEO seeks and disseminate list of older people rights and entitlements to OPFs and community to mobilize their voices, their entitlements to the decision makers
• MOREPEO mobilize OP participation in the on- going new constitution establishment to ensure older people’s concerns inclusion in the new constitution
• MOREPEO through the Morogoro Regional Commissioner has been able to influence the Districts Director to ensure expenses for two older people’s transport and four (4) days allowance as expenses for four days participation during the Older People’s 1^st October. International day celebration which is held in Mwanza national wide this year (2012).

 

KILOSA OLDER PEOPLE

Kilosa District Older People, both men and women realize and appreciate their formation into OP forums. United, they have gathered encouragement to voice with confidence about their entitlements.

The OP chain person Mr Chayeka said “we have started to claim for free medical treatment property tax exemption and have our nominees representing us in village councils and WDC levels.

The OPFs secretariat made an engagement with the Kilosa District doctor to claim on behalf of older people for free medical services and specifically to get an his response as to why older people drugs are more often then not available for older people” . They received a positives response and were promised good supply of drug soon. Kilosa older people are capable of engaging in debates with policy makers and services providers.

A group of ADA and two OPMG members paid a Corley call to Kilosa District Council Director to discuss with him on the celebration of this year Older People’s day at their Districts.

In the process of identification of older people in the recent exercise of providing them with ID, the Kilosa CMT spontaneously recognized and understands vulnerability of older people and their dependents.

“ the Identity Cards according to the district Director and the councils chairperson will act as the basic for the allocation and disbursement of different resources to older people”.

Kilosa DPLO in his presentation narrated that in 2011/2012 financial year the District councils allocated and discussed 196 Identity Cards to older people

In 2012/13 the district council allocated 5,000,000 million Tsh to 10 older people for IGA and 500,000 Tsh loan to a group of older people for IGA activities as well.    

WAY FOWARD

1. Kilosa older people`s representatives commitment on the development of the key advocacy messages on rights and entitlements of OP, Universal pension, health services, to free medical services , killing of older persons ,and older people representation in decision making bodies.
2. Kilosa OP plans for an exchange study visit to Morogoro Municipality OPFs ,OPMGs and ADA groups.
3. Learning on how to use local medias for advocacy purposes.
4. One to one engagement between older people and Kilosa CMT members.
5. Capacity building in lobbying and advocacy to enable Ops to analyze policies and developing key advocacy messages as well to identify key target groups.

 

 

 

 

 

It`s all hell at Morogoro Fungafunga elderly Home.

By Lucas Lukumbo : THE GUARDIAN

 

An old woman from the Fungafunga camp of the disabled in Morogoro who has turned into a street beggar

The well-painted large building with a big mango tree near the entrance belie the terrible life the occupants are subjected to. This is a ‘home’ of around 70 people with disabilities and the elderly people in Morogoro township.

At 10 am, when I arrived at the camp, nurses were still cleaning the rooms and all the belongings of the people with disabilities were placed outside the building.

Torn bed-sheets and mattresses characterized the scenery. The curiosity of the people with disabilities and the elderly grew after I had introduced myself. While the people with disabilities thanked for the coming, workers at the camp insisted that I should see the camp’s boss.

This reporter was denied entry to the camp to interview the occupants of the camp saying it is forbidden for them to talk to the media.

The people with disabilities asked this reporter to come at a convenient time so that they could air their views without the presence of their masters.

The Morogoro Regional Social Welfare, Oswin Ngungamtitu, was later informed by his juniors and promised to see this reporter later in the day, but could not turn up for the appointment.

Some of his fellow workers described him as uncooperative and said he is on leave but never delegated his powers as overall in-charge of the camp.

Speaking about their plight the people with disabilities at the camp said their lives are deplorable.

“Electricity has been cut. We are forced to stay in the dark, and you know what it means for persons with disabilities to stay during the night without light.

Speaking on behalf of his fellows, a blind man known for his aggressiveness at the camp Caspar Thomas, said, “We have to buy kerosene using our meager income we get from begging in the streets to light our lamps.

“If we do not get it, we sleep in the darkness,” he says.

He says the absence of efficient water system has made them “stink like rotten eggs.”

He also spoke of lack of medicine at the camp. “It is difficult for us to consult medical practitioners because we have no means to do so. Please tell the authorities to help us in that.

A staff member at the camp told this reporter that she was also disappointed with the way the camp is being run. He said there is no clinical officer stationed at the camp to take care of the health problems affecting people with disabilities.

The Morogoro Elderly People’s Organization (MOREPEO) has termed the condition subjected to the Fungafunga Camp for People with Disabilities and the elderly as dreadful and has asked the government to intervene.

The the Programme Manager of the non-governmental organization, Peter Alexander Mwita has said residents at the camp mostly the elderly and people with disabilities have to always go outside the camp to ask for alms from Samaritans.

“The most appalling thing is that these poor elderly people and those with disabilities are not properly getting their daily ration. Sometimes they have to go hungry because food is not there,” he says.

Mr. Peter Alexander Mwita says the administration has for a long time failed to pay the one tendering food for the c amp.

The MOREPEO Programme Manager says there is always no electricity at the camp because it has failed to pay TANESCO the required bills.

“As if that is enough, water provision at the camp has been cancelled, also because the camp under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has failed to pay for it,” he says.

He says he has visited several times with the officials of the ministry and the found the situation not improving.

“This situation has made them to more psychologically affected and many have made ends meet by begging in the streets of Morogoro,” he says.

He says he is forced to make such comments because his organization is vested with the duty of improving the life of the elderly and people with disabilities who include among others the people at the Fungafunga camp.

Assistant Commissioner, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Beatrice Fungamo, was not cooperative in responding to questions posed by this reporter stating that this reporter had already infringed what she termed as ‘government administrative norms’ by going to Fungafunga camp without first informing her ministry that he was going to the camp.

While referring this reporter to the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry she said she understands that the camp had a myriad of problems but said there was nothing the ministry could do about that.

“We provide the necessary things and there is nothing one can do if they do not suffice,” she said.

Concerning the electricity and water cuts by the relevant authorities, the assistant commissioner just said “just go to the Permanent Secretary he will answer that.”

According to available statistics, Tanzania with an estimated total population of 41, 000,000 has about 2. million older people (4 percent of the total population) aged 60 years and above. This figure will increase to 8.3 million (10 percent of the total population by the year 2050.

The National aging policy notes that older people have not received the recognition they deserve, a situation which denies their right to own and inherit property.

The National Ageing Policy observes that economically, older people are among the poorest in the society. Various groups of older people such as peasants, herdsmen and fishermen do not belong to any formal social security system.

Retired older people who are members of the Social Security schemes face problems resulting from inadequate benefits and bureaucratic bottlenecks. Furthermore, the existing poverty reduction strategies do not include older people.

The life situation and circumstances of older people demand for national policy to guide the provision of services and their participation in the life of the community, it says.

The national Ageing Policy therefore addresses the recognition of elder people as an important resource in national development, allocation of enough recourses with a goal of improving service delivery to older people and involving older people in decision making in matters that concern them and the nation at large.

Others are involving older people in income generation activities and to provide legal protection to older people as a special group.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

25th February 2013

 

 

P.O.BOX 58, Morogoro, Kitope St. Tel: 073-2930159, 023 2613115

E-mail: moretea2004@yahoo.co.nz

                                                                       

 

                                                                                                                 

STRATEGIC PLAN

TO

YR 2020

 

 

 

Contents

 

1. Tanzania and older people.

 

2. Our work with older people.

 

3. Our actions to 2020.

 

4. Our targets to 2020 – measuring our progress.

 

5. Our approach and ways of working.

 

6. Increasing our capacity to deliver.

 

7. Ensuring we are accountable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facts and figures.

• 96 % of older men and women live in poor rural areas – nearly

          four-thirds of the Tanzania’s total older people population.

 

• 53% of poor older people are the careers of grand children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and other poverty related diseases.

 

• More than 95% of older people live in poverty.

 

• By 2045, people aged 60 and over national wide will outnumber children under 14.

 

• In Urban and rural of Morogoro in Tanzania, more than 50 per cent of older men and women continue to work past the age of 60, the          overwhelming majority in the informal sector.

 

• Two-thirds of the Morogoro older population live in areas affected by conflict.

 

• Two-thirds of the Tanzania’s older people who have chronic illnesses (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease) live in rural and peri urban areas of the country.

 

• In Morogoro and all regions of Tanzania, older people are the main careers of more than 40 per cent of people living with HIV and AIDS and children who have been orphaned by AIDS.

 

 

 

 

Tanzania and Older people.

 

The ageing of the Tanzania population is one of the triumphs of development over the last century. In the new millennium it presents great challenges but also great opportunities. The fact that currently there are nearly 2.1 million people aged over 60 national wide is a cause for celebration. However, the fact that nearly two-thirds of these older men and women live under poverty line also calls for urgent action. Millions of older men and women in urban and rural areas of Tanzania face the immediate problems of poverty and poor health. They name health and income security as their key priorities; their health status not only determines their physical, mental and social wellbeing but, in many cases, is also crucial to their ability to earn a living in the absence of pensions or other income. International development policy and practice ignores older people. The Millennium Development Goals make no direct reference to them. While MDG 1 commits to halving the proportion of those living in extreme poverty by 2015, the deep poverty of millions of older men and women makes it likely that they will remain in the “other half”, not reached by programmes to achieve the MDG target.

 

 

When it comes to healthcare, older men and women’s care-giving and care-receiving roles are closely intertwined. Often older people who need care themselves are caring for others. The increasing care needs of rising numbers of “older old” people will be a challenge, particularly for their families and communities. At the same time, a vast number of older people are careers of grandchildren whose parents have migrated in search of work, or who are ill or have died of HIV-related illnesses.

 

In Morogoro region and Tanzania in general, millions of older people live below even minimum poverty lines. The majority of older people in Morogoro and other regions in Tanzania do not retire. They lack even a basic pension, working to make a living well into old age, often in insecure, poorly paid jobs, until they are too ill or frail to continue. Those who are unable to support themselves face an old age of destitution and hunger.

 

The global financial crisis, resulting in increasing and sometimes unaffordable prices of food, transport and housing, has only worsened their situation. Family and household poverty has a particularly severe impact on the youngest and oldest family members. Older people whose children have migrated in search of work, many of whom are looking after grandchildren, have seen remittances fall or disappear. For poor older people living in poor rural areas, there is little prospect of improvement.

 

The key role that older men and women often play in supporting households and communities remains largely unrecognized and unrecorded. Older men and women living in weak and failing community and those exposed to the hazards of environmental degradation and climate change are especially at risk.

 

Conflict and other causes of political and environmental instability are also undermining the security of increasing numbers of older men and women in poor rural and peri - urban areas. At the same time, global population ageing presents opportunities to draw on the resourcefulness, experience and wisdom of older people. A secured income and good health in old age are attainable goals in Tanzania, enabling older men and women to continue to participate in society. The challenge is to ensure that these goals are also in the programmes of the wider development community and government.

 

 

Our work with older people

Our vision and mission

 

MOREPEO has a vision of a Society in which all Older People and their dependants (OVC/MVC/PLWHA and disabled) live in a dignified, healthy, secure and improved quality of life.

 

While its mission is to raise societal awareness and influence on older people’s needs, wants, rights and entitlements in Morogoro region through advocacy and lobbying.

 

MOREPEO looks back on significant achievements since our inception in 1997. MOREPEO is uniquely committed to challenging the prevailing negative images of old age and enabling older men and women in Morogoro region to fulfill their potential. It has grown from in size and capacity, and has expanded geographically. It has maintained rapport with local Government Authorities of all six district councils of Morogoro region namely:- Morogoro Municipality, Morogoro Rural, Mvomero, Kilosa, Kilombero and Ulanga where we are in operation. Our work from village/mtaa, ward and district council levels has directly improved the lives of thousands of older people in Morogoro rural poorest areas.

 

We work with more than 20 local age care organization registered in Tanzania and Help Age International. The strength and diversity of MOREPEO network with other age care organizations, CSO, CBOs and FBOs are essential to our identity and values, enabling us to serve and empower older people living in poverty.

 

Direct service provision, practical support and trainings are central to our work. With our partners, we provide assistance to more than 2,500 older people and their families and we draw on this experience to influence other service providers, indirectly reaching thousands more. Responding to the needs of older men and women in emergencies is a particular priority.

 

We also highlight the right of older men and women to a secure income and appropriate healthcare, and we show how this benefits not only older people themselves, but also wider society, especially their grandchildren. And we continue to stress how older people’s human rights are violated, simply because of their age. Recognizing that the contributions of older people can be enhanced when they act together, we support community-level initiatives to enable older men and women to take leadership roles. Our geographical priorities are defined by our wish to maximize the impact of our work across a broad cross-section of Morogoro region, where the abuse of older people’s rights is especially prevalent. in both stable and failing states, and in influential and emergent countries.

 

We have contributed substantially to raising the profile of ageing in Morogoro region and all six districts with the international community, donors and governments around the world. We continue to influence politicians, officials and a wide range of others working in development to include the challenges facing older people in their strategies to reduce poverty.

 

We have formal relations with some of the most influential agencies in the sector, including consultancy status with the Help Age International (T). We are committed to following the Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response. We are recognized as key partners by local and national governments of Tanzania in all the districts where we work. We recognize that as population age, new organizations are appearing in the field of ageing. This provides an opportunity of MOREPEO to forge new partnerships and strengthen our distinctive contribution to promoting ageing and development.

 

Our targets to 2020 – Measuring our progress.

 

We will increase by two-thirds the number of services directly supporting older men and women, their families and communities and other service providers from 150,000 in 2010 to 300,000 in 2015. Our work to promote pension provision, better health services and more appropriate emergency responses will continue, potentially benefiting thousands more older people. We will substantially expand our policy and advocacy work.

 

We recognize that by working in partnership with other organizations, stake holders and local government form village/mtaa, ward to district councils` levels we can multiply our impact many times over. We will therefore continue to strengthen our existing network and we will build alliances with new partners in development, both within and outside the field of ageing.

We have established the following targets to help us measure our scope and impact. By 2020:

 

 

 

 

We will enable older men and women to have secure incomes:

 

• 100% of older men and women in Tanzania are receiving state non-contributory pensions or benefits.

 

• Households containing older men and women experience sustained improvements in their income and food security in Morogoro and Tanzania in general.

 

We will enable older men and women and those they support to receive quality health, HIV and care services:

 

• Older men and women in 6 districts of Morogoro region can prevent and manage chronic illness.

 

• Older men and women in 6 districts of Morogoro region receive guaranteed free access to age-friendly health services.

 

• Older men and women in 6 districts of Morogoro region receive appropriate HIV services.

 

• Older men and women receive a range of appropriate primary healthcare services in Morogoro   region.

 

 

Our actions to 2020.

In the face of the national economic crisis, rapid population ageing, climate change, the HIV pandemic, age discrimination and violence against older people, we will respond directly to the expressed needs and capabilities of older men and women, as well as raise awareness of these among the National events, major development institutions and the general public. To end the poverty, discrimination and killings faced by thousands of older men and women:

 

1. We will enable older men and women to have secure incomes.

 

1. We will enable older men and women and those they support to receive quality health, HIV and care services

 

1. We will enable older men and women to actively participate in and be better supported during emergency and recovery situations.

 

1. We will build global and local movements that enable older men and women to challenge age discrimination and claim their rights.

 

1. We will network with other age care organizations from other regions of Tanzania   to work effectively with and for older men and women.

 

We will enable older people to actively participate in and be better supported during emergency and recovery situations:

 

• Older men and women receive direct assistance from us and our partners to prepare for, with stand and recover from emergencies.

 

• Ten major humanitarian agencies recognize and respond to the needs and capacities of older men and women in emergency preparedness, response and recovery.

 

We will build global and local movements that enable older people to challenge age discrimination and claim their rights:

 

• Older men and women lead community action to realize their rights to services and practical support in all six districts of Morogoro region.

 

• Older men and women are helped by work that prohibits or reduces discrimination against them in Morogoro region and in other region of Tanzania.

 

We will network other age care organizations to improve their work with and for older men and women:

 

• MOREPEO will form a network with NGOs, CBOs, FBOs and CSOs shaping and supporting a common agenda and leading, regional, national and international initiatives.

 

• Local and national campaigns take place in all districts and regions of the united republic of Tanzania to demand changes in laws and policies to respect the rights of older men and women.

 

• Awareness on ageing agenda is raised through campaigns and development education in the Morogoro region and all regions of Tanzania.

 

• Training, information-sharing and networking opportunities are key services for the MOREPEO network provided by its secretariat.

 

 

Our approach and ways of working.

 

In the delivery of our work, we emphasize:

 

Social justice and empowerment.

1. We put older men and women at the heart of our work by involving them in program design, implementation and review.

 

1. We ensure that "older age” is central to our mission by building on the strengths and contributions of older men and women.

 

1. We seek to work with the most disadvantaged, frail, disabled and vulnerable older men and women, speaking out on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.

 

1. We recognize that people experience ageing differently, depending, for example, on their sex, age or disability, and we recognize these differences in our work.

Partnerships.

1. We seek to work in partnership with like-minded organizations in fields outside ageing to ensure that ageing issues are understood and given a high priority.

 

1. We seek especially to work with children and family organizations to highlight the impact that issues affecting older people also have on children and other family members, and identify solutions that benefit all generations.

 

Service delivery.

1. We deliver essential services with non-governmental and private providers, where governments are failing to reach older men and women.

 

1. We respond to emergencies urgently and effectively.

 

1. We work to understand, protect and secure the natural environment, ensuring the environmental sustainability of our activities.

 

1. We help older men and women build their resilience to the impact of natural and political crises, including the effects of climate change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evidence and policy change.

 

1. We develop tested ways of improving older men and women’s lives by monitoring and recording the effectiveness of our programs.

 

1. We use robust evidence to persuade intergovernmental bodies, governments and the private sector to address ageing issues.

 

Increasing our capacity to deliver.

 

To enable us to deliver our regional and national actions to 2020, we

 

• We will build our annual income to Tshs. 455 million from diverse sources – including income that we can use flexibly – with 30 per cent of our income coming from membership contribution.

 

• We will be more transparent about our governance, involving MOREPEO members in proposing appropriately skilled members of our board.

 

• Our Headquarter office and all 9 older peoples` Advice and Information centers will demonstrate high levels of management practice and accountability.

 

• We will invest in our staff to build the skills we need to achieve our strategy.

 

• We will develop systems to ensure that we can continue operating at all times.

 

 

 

Ensuring we are accountable.

We are accountable to our donors, our partners and the public National wide. Above all, we are accountable to the older men and women with and for whom we work. In our programs, we will continue to enable older men and women to make informed choices and know what to expect from us. We will also arrange external evaluations of our work to show whether we are fulfilling our stated objectives. We are refining an accountability framework for use in emergency programs. We will extend this to

our development work.

 

We will develop processes for reviewing and learning from our work, to enable us to identify key achievements and gaps and inform our annual planning and budgeting. We will also assess our work against one specific national action or set of targets each year, to ensure our work is accountable and continues to improve. We see this strategy as reflecting a continuous process of improved programming, advocacy and learning. We recognize that the world is changing rapidly and we will be ready to adjust our strategy to respond to new realities.

 

MOREPEOenables older people to demand for

their rights and entitlements, challenge discrimination and

overcome poverty, so that they can lead dignified,

secure, active and healthy lives.

 

Morogoro Elderly Peoples` Organization (MOREPEO)

Kitope Road, Morogoro Municipality,

P.O. Box 58

Morogoro Region

Tanzania

 

E- mail :- moretea@yahoo.co.nz

 

Tel: + 255 (0) 23 2613115

Mobile + 255 (0) 73 2930159

Fax: + 255 (0) 23 26137