THE ELDERLY RIGHTS IN SUDAN: HEALTH SERVICES
HIBA MOHAMMED ELHASSAN ALI ELAWAD *
Department of Medical Photography, Faculty of Optometry and Visual Sciences, Alneelain University, Khartoum, Sudan
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aging in Sudan is influenced by many factors including biological, physiological, psychological, environmental, economical factors, and low priority at government plans. Old people in Sudan were greatly influenced by the economic situation and the impact of poverty; >75% are not working, illiteracy (>60%), poor health and nutritional status (>23%). Health services in Sudan are provided by governmental services, private services, military services, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Health care services are sub-optimal. There is no special care for the elderly. The government has a retirement pension scheme for those who had put in certain number of years in the public sector. No other social or economic benefits are available to the elderly population. Difficulties, encountered in setting national strategy on ageing and elderly health care at governmental level had included lack of adequate information on the problems and health needs of the elderly among the population and policy makers; low priority, lack of funds, shortage of government staff and geriatric professionals, lack of interdepartmental co-operation, lack of training and trained personnel.
Keywords: Aging, elderly rights, elderly in Sudan, health services, national strategy