“Improving Access to Health Care for Older Persons (aka Geriatrics care): a Shared Responsibility- Dr. Boka”
Obongi County MP Dr. George Didi Boka has stated that older persons, like children, require specialized health care known as geriatrics. He noted that as a country, Uganda has not invested sufficiently to improve access to geriatric care. Dr. Boka mentioned that the Ministry of Health and its partners are working on a legal, regulatory, and policy framework to improve access to geriatrics care, designing a National strategic plan to scale up geriatrics care linked to NDP4. This, he said will incorporate geriatrics training in the National Health Training Institute curriculum. He added that the framework will ensure the availability of diagnostic services for common geriatric health conditions, including medications.
The initiative also aims to integrate geriatrics care into the health service delivery package at primary, secondary, tertiary, and super-specialized levels. It involves appropriating sufficient and necessary resources to provide geriatrics care services, as well as strengthening mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the provision of geriatrics care. Dr. Boka emphasized that strengthening public, private, and community partnerships can improve access to geriatric care.
Dr. Boka highlighted the importance of investing in our health and well-being, stating that health is made at home and brought to the health facility when it has broken down. He also emphasized the significance of preventing diseases of lifestyle rather than curing them.
