The Pan-African Salon for the Elderly (SPA) opened Tuesday in Ouagadougou, the work of its first edition of 72 hours, with the aim of offering seniors a framework for exchanges and inspiration for an inclusive and fulfilling life.
“Our elders deserve all our attention and respect, not only for what they have done during their active lives, but also for the role they continue to play within our communities,” said the promoter of the show, Yacine Kindo/Zétiyarga.
According to Ms. Kindo, the SPA aims to be a space for exchange, learning and inspiration to ensure seniors have a fulfilling life.
The promoter of the event spoke on Tuesday in Ouagadougou during the opening ceremony of the first edition of the SPA under the theme “How to prepare and better live your retirement for a second fulfilling life”.
She also called on seniors to actively participate in discussions and explore suitable solutions to enable them to live with dignity.
‘Our elders are a living heritage, an invaluable source of knowledge, exp
erience and wisdom. Too often, we forget that they still have much to offer,’ said Ms. Kindo. In his opinion, retirement is not only a time of rest but we must know how to continue to play an active role in our communities.
The head of the ceremony, who is also a Minister of State and Minister in charge of the Civil Service, Bassolma Bazié, for his part welcomed the initiative of the promoter who values ??the elderly.
Minister Bazié clarified that the government, under the regime of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, is sensitive to the concerns of seniors who constitute a living heritage for the country.
He also explained that the State intends, among other things, to reduce the cost of medical check-ups, reduce dialysis costs and evacuate certain files of the elderly.
The representative of the godmother, Kadidiatou Dembélé/Bicko stressed that the authorities must put in place social protection systems and pension schemes for the benefit of seniors in order to allow them to live in security and dignity.
Ms. Dembél
é, who is in charge of the humanitarian action department, assured that a fulfilling retirement requires good health. “We must encourage and facilitate access to care, especially for the elderly,” she urged.
Note that SPA 2024 will be punctuated, among other things, by performances by artists, conferences, exhibitions of stands and presentations of certificates of recognition at the end of the event.
Source: Burkina Information Agency