KAMPALA, Uganda — Sironko Woman MP Hon. Asha Mafabi has called on the government to improve healthcare services and strengthen social protection for older persons across Uganda.
Mafabi made the call while tabling a motion in Parliament seeking government intervention to improve access to geriatric healthcare and enhance support for the country’s growing population of older persons.
She urged the government to introduce a health insurance scheme specifically targeting older persons, which would enable them to access essential medicines, diagnostic services and treatment for age-related and chronic conditions either free of charge or at an affordable cost.
According to Mafabi, Uganda’s population of older persons continues to grow, with more than 1.4 million people aged 60 years and above. She noted that this population bears a disproportionate burden of non-communicable diseases and other age-related health conditions.
Mafabi said the country’s public health system is not adequately prepared to meet the specific healthcare needs of older persons.
She pointed out that many public health facilities lack dedicated geriatric units, health workers trained in geriatric care and infrastructure designed to provide age-friendly services.
She argued that the growing number of older persons requires deliberate government policies and investments to ensure they receive appropriate healthcare and social protection.
The proposed health insurance scheme, she said, would help reduce the financial burden faced by older persons and their families, particularly those requiring regular medication, diagnostic tests and long-term treatment.
Mafabi also called for the strengthening of geriatric services within public health facilities, including the training and deployment of healthcare workers with specialised skills in caring for older persons.
She further urged the government to improve social protection measures for older persons to enable them to live with dignity and access essential services.
The motion comes amid growing concerns over the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases and chronic conditions among Uganda’s ageing population.
Mafabi said addressing the healthcare needs of older persons should be treated as a national priority as Uganda continues to experience demographic changes.
She called for coordinated action by government agencies to ensure that older persons are not left behind in the country’s healthcare and social protection programmes.
The proposed interventions, she said, would not only improve the quality of life of older persons but also reduce the financial and caregiving burden placed on families caring for elderly relatives.
