Ageing Situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
By: MIFED- Congo
May 6, 2002
THE
SITUATION OF THE AGEING IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
The
Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C.) is a 60 millions inhabitants
country, with a surface of 2,345,000 km˛. It is not useful to be
demonstrated , the Democratic Republic of Congo lives a social political
and economical situation among the most difficult in the world. Absence of
infrastructures, rising inflation that contrasts with the stagnation of
wages, insignificant budget allocated to the social sector, health and
education…there, are pains that characterize the environment of the
Democratic Republic of Congo. For example, the Congolese of the RDC, lives
with an average of less than one dollars per day.
Besides
the catastrophic 32 years of the dictatorial reign of the ancient regime,
there is also the war taking place in our country since nearly six years.
Among categories of the vulnerable population that paid for the heavy
tribute of this war, there are next to women and children, the aged
people. Indeed, most our old men live in misery : lack of indemnities of
retirement, lack of appropriate social politics, abandoned by members of
the family because of so called sorcery witch actually, rather hide a
confession of impotence to provide to the person's needs actually. And on
this point, the situation is more desperate for those who don't have any
children.
Thus,
some of them, can be seen along the avenues of Kinshasa, begging their
daily bread, that the are not sure to get, as much people in the street
see evil spell through their silhouettes. And to escape from this, others,
by dignity prefer to rather count the remainder of their days within old
people's home.
Problems
of the ageing in Democratic Republic of Congo, can be summarized in the
following points: ageing and discrimination of the society, ageing and
productivity, ageing and health care, ageing and HIV/AIDS, ageing and
human rights
AGEING
AND DISCRIMINATION OF THE SOCIETY
The
Congolese society laminated by the crisis in every sectors, sees more and
more selfishness reappearance. Of this fact, old people are victims of
discrimination especially from young. It is over, the time where the old
man was someone precious and of which disappearance was a drama for the
society. As said an african author : « an old man death, is like a
library burning… »
Nowadays,
in a country where the life expectancy doesn't pass 45 years, to have a
head full of white hairs, expose to be accused of sorcery. Therefore, all
the issues related to the socioeconomic crisis, such as: unemployment,
lack of money, celibacy, illnesses, death…that would a family could be
crossing, is put first on the amount of the old man or woman. And
sometimes, people attend impotent, to the killing of people of the third
age, because they are considered as being to the origin of misfortunes
that hit the family. This bad consideration towards old people is
exacerbated by a bad interpretation of certain religious teachings that
preach the spiritual fight.
AGEING
AND PRODUCTIVITY
The
retirement in Democratic Republic of Congo intervenes between 55 and 60
years. No one wants about it! Indeed, retired persons pass immediately,
from a state of production to a state of dependence and idleness.
Causes
:
There
are nearly no indemnities of retirement ; The average wages are around 10
US$ dollars per month. So people cannot save money; to prepare their
retirement ; the distrust of youth (conflict of generations) ; young
people see in the older persons only sorcery and evil spell… absence of
a governmental politics in social security matter.
These
states of poverty and inactivity make that on 10 retired persons, 7 of
them die of nervous depression.
AGEING
AND HEALTH
Medical
care is a crucial problem for the old people. Homes of old persons being
without resources, some of their boarders die under the impotent look of
organizations that stand them.
For
guidance, the Government of the DRC allocate only 2% of its budget to this
important sector of the social life. Then, it is obvious to understand
that nothing is planned to soothe old people life.
AGEING
AND VIH/SIDA
Although
the HIV/AIDS is everybody's matter, old persons suffering from HIV/AIDS
are very scarce. Because the way of transmission which is more sexual
(83%), are very concerned people who are sexually active (age group from
15 to 45 years).
But, in spite of the above mentionned fact, sometimes aged people undergo
the weight of the illness directly. Because, in addition to losing a son
or a daughter, they have to take care of the deceased's children.
AGEING
AND HUMAN RIGHTS
From
what precedes, we can say the aged people live in the infra-human
conditions. In the our country old age looks like a jail of which the only
way to come out and be free is the death.
STATE
OF THE OLD PEOPLE HOMES IN THE D.R.C.
The
situation below haven't changed since about ten years.
Quantity
: 5 managed by the Government, about ten belonging to Catholics.
Average
Population per home : 25 persons
Activities
: There's nearly no activity in the Old people homes. There no TV, no
radio, no game, no newspaper… So old men and women spend their time in
the inactivity. They don't have anything to distract themselves. Some of
them are living in that situation since 15 years. They don't dare to go
out, fearing to be confounded with a madman or simply a wizard. Otherwise,
some boarders, especially women try to work by cultivating vegetables, for
their own consumption.
ACTIONS
OF MIFED-Congo
In
spite of all our good will and our compassion, seeing the precariousness
in which live the old people in all visited places, our action is limited
very for lack of funding. Indeed, MIFED-Congo deals with two main action
for old persons: Because of lack of funds, we are limited to a monthly
visit of old man homes. And we avail the opportunity to talk with the old
persons and show them that the are still persons who care of them and know
how important they are to the society. Sometimes, we bring food and
clothes specially to women. In addition to these actions, MIFED-Congo is
working hardly to reconcile young persons and old one. Our target is
schoolboys and schoolgirls aged between 13 and 18 years. The main goal of
this action is to stop the discrimination old people are victims of. And,
to teach young persons that sitting next to an old person they will about
wisdom and to prepare their own ageing.
STRATEGIES
OF MIFED-Congo to IMPROVE AGED PEOPLE CONDITIONS
In
relation to the Government :
Increase
of the budget allocated to the social sector, especially, the support of
paupers, to encourage peace-building ; to conceive a social policy in
public enterprises public as well as in the private, to protects the
worker until his retirement, to setting up a real social security ; to fix
of a decent minimum salary, (basis of count of the indemnities of career
end.)
In
relation to the young generation :
To
fight against the discrimination of which the aged people are victims on
behalf of young people. Using mass-media by the means of advertising on TV
and radio, to sensitize young people to take care of old persons, to
improve the aged people image to the eye of the youth..
In
relation to the Old Persons Homes :
To
liven these homes by providing them with something entertaining :
television, radio, games of society… To make the homes of old men
productive : by providing them with tools, for them to be useful to the
society : (hoes, rakes…) Direct contribution : dresses and food,
for instance.
MIFED-Congo
is an organization whose dynamism is not to demonstrate in Kinshasa. But
like all NGOs of the Democratic Republic of Congo, we don't have funds
enough to undertake all that we plan to do. Therefore, to permit us to
achieve our objectives, all contribution will be substantial.
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