Africa Focus: Campaigners sound alarm over worsening plight of older women in Africa

Millions of elderly women across Sub-Saharan Africa are grappling with all forms of discrimination alongside abject poverty, yet there are negligible policies and legislation to address their plight, campaigners said on Tuesday during the International Women's Day.

Led by Help Age International, an international charity, the campaigners regretted that older women in Africa remained on the margins despite economic progress that has been witnessed in the continent.

"As we mark international women's day, millions of older women in Africa face health, economic and social problems but regrettably, national policies do not adequately address their vulnerabilities," Help Age International said in a statement released in Nairobi.

The 2015 Global Age Watch Index published by Help Age International noted that older people, especially women experience severe material deprivation, ill health alongside physical and emotional abuse.

According to the annual survey, older women in Sub-Saharan Africa have borne the brunt of poverty, disease and ecological calamities blighting the continent.

"A lifetime of gender discrimination combined with the inequality of old age have a devastating impact on older women," said Help Age International, adding that elderly women are three times more likely to be widowed while a good number has various forms of disability.

The United Nations contend that older people in Africa comprise an estimated 12 percent of the population while the figure could reach 21 percent by 2050.

Campaigners noted that compared to their male counterparts, the female senior citizens in Africa suffer more discrimination in terms of provision of social security and basic services like education, health and shelter.

"Due to decades of discrimination and exclusion from formal employment, few elderly women in Africa can access social security. They tend to be poorer since they work in low paying jobs that provide limited social safety nets in old age," noted Help Age International.

It lauded efforts by Kenya and Uganda to strengthen social protection of older citizens through a range of funding and policy incentives.

African governments must hasten implementation of protocols that advance the welfare of senior citizens especially women.

Campaigners hailed the adoption of a continental pact to advance interests of older persons by the African Union member states in January.

"This is a huge step in addressing the key challenges facing older persons but African states must strengthen national laws and policies to protect the elderly population," said Help Age International. Enditem