Art in Tanzania

INTRODUCTION

The subject of old age and aging has been of great concern to the international community particularly in view of economic, political and social dimensions.

The United Nations Organization reports (1999) show that there has been an increase in the number of older people in the World. This increase has been demonstrated more in developing nations where the rates do not match with the available resources to cater for older people’s health, nutrition and other basic services essential for human life.  According to these reports, in 1950 the United Nations estimated an existence of 200 million people aged 60 years and above. In 1975 that number increased to 350 million people and is expected to reach 625 million people by 2005.  It is also expected that by the year 2050, the number of older people for the first time in human history, will have increased and surpassed the number of children under 14 years of age. In the African continent alone, that number is expected to increase from the present 38 million to 212 million.

The increase in the number and percentage of this population is a success in that it demonstrates an improved standard of living those results from better services such as health and education. This increase, however, is a challenge because the government is called upon to put in place the vital infrastructure for providing services to older people.

The majority of older people live in poverty and uncertainty. Furthermore, the fact that a large number of older people (about 75 percent) live in rural areas and that the number of older women is bigger than that of older men presents yet an additional challenge. In view of this there is a need for the government, its institutions and voluntary agencies to create an environment that recognizes older people and gives them an opportunity to participate fully in the daily life of the society.

The government realizes that older people are a resource in the development of our nation. The existence of Tanzania as a nation is an evidence of older peoples’ contribution in political, economic, cultural, and social arena.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 CONCEPT AND MEANING OF OLD AGE

Old age and aging is a concept that defines the final stage of human growth from childhood, youth to old age. In Tanzania an individual is recognized as an older person based on age, responsibilities and his or her status, for example, a leader at his or her workplace or in a clan. The older people we have were either salaried or self-employed or those living in rural areas whose advanced age limits them from active work.

In developed countries such as Britain and United States of America (USA) old age is associated with retirement at 60 years. In other countries retiring age differs according to gender. In Latvia for example men retire at the age of 55 whereas women retire at the age of 60.

Despite the fact that government employees retire at the age of 60 and that older people in rural areas and those who are self-employed stop working only due to limited energy, it remains that at the age of 60 years.  There are clear indications of decrease in their working ability. Both the National Health Policy and the Public Service Act recognize 60 years as retirement age. For the purpose of this policy, an older person is an individual who is 60 years and above.

1.2 THE SITUATION OF OLDER PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY

The twentieth century has witnessed an increase in the number of older people. According to available statistics, Tanzania with an estimated total population of 33,500,000, has about 1.4 million older people (4 per cent of the total population) aged 60 years and above. This figure will increase to 8.3 million (10 per cent of the total population) by the year 2050.

In everyday social life, older people are an acknowledged source of information, knowledge and experience. In traditional life both older and young people shared responsibilities. Whereas older people were custodians of customs and traditions, advisers/mediators and childcare, the young people had the responsibility of providing basic needs including food, shelter, clothing and protection. Older people in Tanzania are of various groups that include retirees, peasants, herdsmen and fishermen.

Generally, the situation of older people in Tanzania is characterized by the following:

1.2.1 Weakening of traditional life:

Globalization, growth of towns and the movement of people from rural to urban areas in search of jobs have changed the formal relationship in the family and society in general. As a result of weakened traditional life, older people are no longer playing a vital role in the life of the community. Consequently, the young people do not show respect to older people and often times despise them.

1.2.2 Inadequate care:

The movement of young people from rural to urban centers have left the majority of older people lonely and unprotected. Moreover HIV/AIDS pandemic has taken away lives of the majority of young people. On the other hand, older people are increasingly called upon to care for themselves and their orphaned grandchildren.

1.2.3 Poverty:

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.

1.2.4 Diseases:

The majority of people become old with poor health due to poor lifestyles and poor nutrition during their childhood, women with heavy workload and frequent pregnancies. Prolonged diseases are a common feature among many older people. Additionally, health services are not easily accessible to the majority of older people besides they are expensive. Health care professionals on the other hand lack motivation and are not adequately trained to handle older peoples’ illness.

1.2.5 Older Women and incompatible traditions.

Older women are more affected by old age problems. Women live longer than men, that is why there are more older women than men. Older women struggle against problems related to their gender, furthermore they are denied the right to inherit and own property including land. In some areas women have been raped and killed due to superstitious beliefs.

1.2.6 Older women with disabilities:

Due to our culture and environment, women, people with disabilities, and older people have had an unequal opportunity to participate in decision making on issues related to their development and welfare.

Where women have been discriminated due to their sex, people with disabilities do not have access to equal opportunities to participate in securing their own development. Additionally, older people have not received the recognition they deserve, a situation which denies their right to own and inherit property.

1.2.7 Laws that do not protect older people:

The current social and legal systems do not provide adequate protection and security to older people as a special group. Consequently, they do not receive deserving care and older women are denied their right to own and inherit property.

1.3 Rationale for the Policy:

The life situation and circumstances of older people demand for a National Policy to guide the provision of services and their participation in the life of the community. The National Ageing Policy addresses the following:

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 POLICY DIRECTION.

2.1 Direction:

This policy concerns older people living in rural and urban areas as well as other special groups of older people such as retirees, peasants, herdsmen, and fishermen. It also concerns young people who need to prepare themselves for responsible old age.

2.2 General Objective:

The general objective of the policy is to ensure that older people are recognized, provided with basic services, and are accorded with the opportunity to fully participate in the daily life of the community.

2.3 Specific Objectives:

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 POLICY STATEMENTS.

The government realizes that older people are a resource in the development of our nation. The existence of Tanzania as a nation is an evidence of older people’s contribution in political, economic, cultural and social arena. Besides protection and care, services emphasis will be put on involving older people in national development and incorporating them in the national development plans.

The National Ageing Policy recognizes human rights as stipulated in the Tanzanian constitution of 1977 as amended in 1984 and 1995 respectively. Moreover, the policy has taken into consideration the United Nations Organization declaration No. 46 of 1991 on the following older people’s rights.

The following Policy statements aim at providing an implementation framework which will facilitate improvement of older people’s life and set the aging agenda within the national development paradigm.

3.1 Health Services:

Frequent and prolonged diseases is a common feature among many older people. This condition calls for a professional care. Despite this, health services are not easily accessible for the majority of older people and in most cases are expensive. The existing procedure of providing free health services to older people has some shortcomings.

The majority of older people particularly in the rural areas are left out as a result of their inability to prove that they are 60 years and above and that they cannot afford to share the cost. In order to improve the health status of older people, the government, in collaboration with various stakeholders, will ensure that:

(i) The cost sharing policy shall be revised to adjust the criteria for determining 60 years as a standard age.

(ii) Health personnel receive special training to handle older people.

(iii) There is an established mechanism for making follow up on older people’s health.

(iv) There is an established mechanism for awareness creation for older people in HIV/AIDS pandemic and care of its victims.

(v) Older people and the public in general are sensitized/mobilized on old age health related problems.

3.2 Care of older people:

The ability of the oldest to manage themselves is either minimal or not existing. Due to this fact the society has the responsibility of providing them with care and support. However, the family will remain the basic institution of care and support for older people. Institutional care of older people will be the last resort.  Furthermore, the government does not expect to establish older people’s long term care institutions. In order to provide care for older people.

(i) Families and the society in general will be mobilized/sensitized to care and support older people.

(ii) Older people will be cared for in their respective community.

(iii) The government through Local Government and Voluntary Agencies, will continue to provide institutional care to older people and others who have no one to care for.

3.3. Participation of Older People:

Every citizen has an equal right to participate fully in issues that concern him/her and the society as a whole. The government realizes that older people are an important resource that needs to be taped for the development of the nation. In order to do so:

(i) A Mechanism will be put in place to ensure that older people participate in the planning and implementation of development programs at various levels.

(ii) Organizations and groups responsible for older people’s welfare will be dully recognized. The government shall also encourage the formation of such new organizations and groups.

3.4 Older People’s Fund:

The government recognizes older people’s potentiality in poverty reduction initiatives. However, the same has not been translated into reality. In order to develop its utilization, the government in collaboration with various stakeholders will establish a Revolving Loan Fund.

3.5 Income Generation:

Older people are among the poorest in the society. Besides being skilled, knowledgeable and experienced as farmers, fishermen and retired public servants, the majority of older people go into retirement ill-prepared. In order to rectify this situation:

(i) Older people, individually or in groups, will be sensitized and mobilized in establishing income generating activities.

(ii) Local Government Authorities and Voluntary Agencies will incorporate older people’s groups in income generating activities.

3.6 Social Security:

Older people face a number of problems that include lack of savings. The existing Social Security Scheme is designed to accommodate older people who were employed in the formal sector. However, the benefits they receive do not correspond to increasing living costs. Older people in the informal sector such as peasants, fishermen and herdsmen particularly in rural areas face a high degree of vulnerability. In order to rectify this situation:

(i). A mechanism will be established to ensure that social security institutions direct their services to the informal sector.

(ii). Local Government Authorities and Voluntary Agencies will sensitize older people in the informal sector to save through Ward Banks, Primary Cooperative Societies and Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies.

(iii). Families will be mobilized in order to participate in income raising activities.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *