Sweden to donate more funds for the elderly
SAGE currently caters for 148,405 elderly persons from 40 districts of which 89117 are females and 59,288 are males. SAGE which started in 2010 has seen elderly persons receiving Shs25, 000 per month. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Dr Maxime Hounita, Country Representative for United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, citing the universal declaration, said there was need to rollout social protection for all elderly persons because it is a human right.
KAMPALA. Swedish government has promised to donate more funds for social protection so that all elderly people in the country can benefit.
Speaking at the launch of gender and equity strategy on Friday, Ms Johanna Palmberg, counsellor resilience and humanitarian aid at Swedish Embassy, said her government was committed to investing more funds.
“We will give more funds to cater for the elderly persons. I cannot tell you how much more will be given out, but we shall definitely give out more and we need to see all elderly persons benefiting from this programme,” Ms Palmberg said.
SAGE currently caters for 148,405 elderly persons from 40 districts of which 89117 are females and 59,288 are males. SAGE which started in 2010 has seen elderly persons receiving Shs25, 000 per month.
Ms Palmberg, however, without giving much details, said there was a lot of unplanned and wasteful expenditure in the country which she said should be urgently addressed.
Dr Maxime Hounita, Country Representative for United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, citing the universal declaration, said there was need to rollout social protection for all elderly persons because it is a human right.
“Social security is an important tool to prevent and reduce poverty, inequality and social exclusion, as well as social insecurity. This turn promotes equal opportunity, gender equity and equality plus inclusive growth,” Dr Hounita said.
State minister for gender, Peace Mutuuzo, said the gender and equity strategy for social protection will guide stakeholders in the design of gender responsive and equitable social protection interventions.
“Gender and equity strategy we have launched today will address gender inequalities and equity concerns in the delivery of social protection services, build capacity of duty bearers to effectively implement gender responsive and equitable social protection interventions,” Ms Mutuuzo said.
Ms Mutuuzo applauded SAGE development partners, UN Women, DFiD and Irish Aid who have supported the development of gender and equity strategy for social protection.
