Widowers urged to form groups for empowerment

Elderly widowers in Nyanza have been urged to register their groups to enable them to access support from the government and other organisations.

Director of Widowers’ Health Empowerment & Support Service Initiative, Samuel Okombo, said there are people who can assist the widowers if they work in groups.

The initiative gets support from the office of the Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo.

Through the initiative, the office is providing gift hampers to the elderly widowers and sensitising them on health promotion.
The widowers are also tested for various non-communicable diseases.

Okombo said registering a Community-Based Organization (CBO) by the elderly widowers would enable the government to obtain data and support them in accordance with their priority needs.

The director said their assessment reveals that many elderly widowers suffer in silence. He argued that there are organisations ready to support the widowers if they register a group.

“The programme provides a platform where the elderly widowers bring out their voices for possible help. We urge them to operate in groups to enhance their capacity to get support from the state and non-state actors,” Okombo said.

Speaking on Tuesday when they took the sensitisation programme to Kapuonja Location in Kisumu West Sub-county, Okombo said they encouraged the senior citizens to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) to access affordable health services.

More than 200 elderly widowers attended the meeting. He said working together would enable the widowers to share ideas and look for ways of supporting each other to reduce the stigma that comes with old age.

Currently, the government pays stipends to elderly people who have attained 70 years under the Inua Jamii programme.

“The government offers a bonus payment on health fees for elderly persons who have enrolled with SHA. Widowers should not succumb to the stigma that comes with old age,” he added.

During the sensitisation programme, some widowers said they face challenges including difficulties in accessing medication, lack of assistive devices, family neglect, land, and health issues among others.

An elderly widower, John Oniare, said they undergo a lot of tribulations due to a decline in their energy.

He said they depend on people and other family members for livelihood but face challenges.
Oniare urged the government to come up with ways of supporting them to ensure they meet their needs.

“We continue to grow weaker yet we don’t have clean water in our villages. I appeal to the government and other agencies to assist us whenever we need help,” Oniare said.

Area Chief Benta Adhiambo said the programme will improve the health of the senior citizens.
“Most of the elderly persons are neglected by their children or relatives. They need people who can support them,” she said.

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