Stakeholder Group on Ageing (SGA): Africa survey on the impact of COVID-19 containment and mitigation strategies on the rights of older persons in Africa
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020
Authors
Amaike, G.O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
COVID–19 was declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Africa recorded her first case in Egypt on February 14, 2020, since then, a total of fifty-four (54) African countries have been severely and progressively affected, with older persons bearing the higher rates in mortality across all 18 countries surveyed. In response to the COVID-19 global health emergency, African governments adopted extraordinary measures to contain and mitigate the pandemic, in order to save lives. This Report is asynopsis of the findings of Stakeholder Group on Ageing Africa (SGA Africa) survey of the impact of COVID-19 containment and mitigation strategies on the rights of older persons in Africa. In addition to the findings from the 18 African countries, the unique context of two countries; Cameroon and South Africa are detailed in the Report. Among various critical objectives, the survey also sought to identify and assess community level support and volunteerism and to ascertain, if these mechanisms provided the needed support to older persons. Results show that although, these strategies are put in place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, they have implications (both positive and negative) for the rights of older persons in Africa. The absence as reported in most countries, of government social protection infrastructure for older persons, leads to income challenges especially, with the exclusion of most of the older persons as recipients of palliatives. In most countries, older persons were not consulted during containment preparatory stages and, their concerns were not considered. Other noticeable effects included increased incidences of elder abuse.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Elder abuse , Global pandemic , World Health Organization (WHO) , African countries , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES
Citation
Ajiboye, O., Omokaro, E., Christian, A. E., Naraidoo, N. N., Amaike, B., & Somers, S. Stakeholder Group on Ageing (SGA): Africa survey on the impact of COVID-19 containment and mitigation strategies on the rights of older persons in Africa.