The JBS Gerontology Centre, has launched the Geri-Care Health Scheme, Nigeria’s first healthcare program specifically designed for the elderly ones, marking a significant turning point in the nation’s healthcare system. JBS Gerontology Centre, Nigeria’s first private hospital dedicated solely to elderly care, was established by UK-trained geriatrician Dr. Olutoyin Akande Ajala to fill a vital healthcare need for the nation’s older residents. Government officials celebrated the introduction of the Geri-Care Health Scheme. Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, praised the program as crucial to advancing the government’s goal of a better healthcare system.
He underlined its significance in offering easily accessible, reasonably priced healthcare for the country’s aged citizens with federal support for the Construction of geriatric facilities in each of Nigeria’s 36 states as well as Abuja. This program provides comprehensive services, such as social programs, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and medical reviews, to the aged population of Nigeria. Dr. Ajala claims that the program is intended to guarantee accessible, reasonably priced healthcare options while encouraging the government and Insurance providers to collaborate in order to make elderly care viable. Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Trustee of the JBS Elderly Care Foundation Africa asserted that the program has the potential to completely transform the way that older people can receive care.
Creating a welcoming environment for geriatric care.
Since its opening, the JBS Centre in Lagos has seen 400 hospitalizations, 850 outpatient visits, and 900 aged day activities. It offers specialized care to aged patients from a staff of qualified geriatricians, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. JBS is a ray of hope for Nigeria’s elderly, particularly as the population ages, owing to Dr. Ajala’s emphasis on respect, empathy, and all-encompassing care. Moreover, this specialist facility offers a welcoming environment created especially for geriatric care by fusing professional knowledge with a profound awareness of the distinct physical and Mental Health requirements of elderly ones.
In addition to providing healthcare, it serves as a hub for activism and education, attempting to change perceptions about aging and increasing awareness of geriatric health issues throughout Nigeria. The Center’s cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic tools enable comprehensive evaluations and individualized treatment programs that take into account each patient’s particular situation. JBS assists aged citizens in preserving their independence and enhancing their quality of life by placing a strong emphasis on health maintenance and preventive treatment. JBS Gerontology Centre has emerged as a pioneer in creating training programs and teaching materials for medical professionals.
Aiding aging populations with equipped health specialists.
Moreover, the Center actively partners with academic institutions and health organizations in order to solve the national shortage of geriatric specialists and to advance geriatric care training. JBS is attempting to create a network of healthcare professionals equipped to aid Nigeria’s aging population through conferences, workshops, and collaborations. The Center’s all-encompassing strategy, which includes a Dementia care program and elderly day activities section, is giving Nigeria’s older citizens vital social and cognitive stimulation and fostering a friendly environment. By empowering them with respect, dignity, and required care, this project portends a bright future for Nigeria’s elderly.
Nigeria’s elderly healthcare system is still in its early stages, although recent developments and committed experts are having a discernible influence. Only seven geriatricians currently serve Nigeria’s 9.4 million aged citizens, a severe shortfall that Dr. Ajala urges the government to rectify through training and education. The development of frameworks for aged healthcare services in Nigeria is greatly aided by this new scheme and other geriatricians. A major problem in the industry is the limited number of qualified geriatricians.
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Notwithstanding their potential, the government’s initiatives need stronger financing and execution. Without additional geriatricians, improved infrastructure, and greater vigor to raise awareness of aged health issues, elder healthcare cannot flourish to its full potential. It is evident that youth services continue to be the top priority in Nigeria’s Public Health agenda when comparing the emphasis on healthcare for young people vs the elderly. However, the need for a more equal healthcare distribution is increasing as Nigeria’s population ages. To meet this requirement and guarantee that the elderly can receive the support and care focus they needed, a change in public opinion and policy is essential.