Rwanda celebrated the older persons on Tuesday, on October 6, with a call to protect their rights, dignity and well-being and recognise the value of their experience and contribution to national development.

The celebration was held in Rutunga Sector, Gasabo District, under the theme, "The contribution and experience of older people, a foundation for sustainable development.” Globally, the International Day of Older Persons is observed on October 1, celebrating lives of people aged 65 and above.

Older and younger people gathered in Rutunga for the celebration clad in traditional attire imishanana. The event featured traditional games, including igisoro, as well as music and other activities.

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According to statistics, Rwanda has about 927,000 older people, representing 6.4 per cent of the country&039;s total population.

Consolée Uwimana, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, joined older people in cutting a cake to mark the day and participated in some of the traditional games with them.

During the celebration, the ministry also extended support to some older people, including two cows, cooking facilities and mattresses, among other items.

Uwimana said the day provides an opportunity to celebrate the rights of older people, share knowledge with them and strengthen interaction between generations.

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She said Rwandan culture has traditionally valued older people, adding that this is reflected in proverbs that recognise the knowledge, wisdom and experience they possess.

"Older people have knowledge, values and taboos which currently help and will sustain this generation and others to come,” Uwimana said.

She said older people should therefore be given space to participate in decisions made in the country, as well as decisions concerning their own lives.

The government has established different programmes aimed at supporting older people, she said.

However, Uwimana stressed that caring for older people is not the responsibility of government alone, but also of their families.

"No government programme can replace the love and care that children should give to their parents,” she said.

Older people call for increased support

Elizabeth Uzanyinzoga, 70, said she was happy to attend the celebration and interact with fellow older people.

Uzanyinzoga said government social protection support has helped her, noting that she previously received a cow and currently receives a monthly allowance of Rwf12,500.

She called for the amount to be increased, saying the rising cost of living has made the current support insufficient.

"We request that the social protection support be raised because the prices of everything have increased and the money has become too little to help,” she said.

Theodore Sibomana, 93, also expressed his happiness at being part of the celebration.

Joseph Butoyi also welcomed the celebration. He said older people benefit from programmes such as VUP, health insurance and social protection support.

Butoyi also called for programmes that would bring older people and young people together in every sector so that the older generation can pass on knowledge, culture, values and taboos to younger people.

He said such interactions could help address some challenges facing young people, including the use of illicit alcohol.

"Young people need to be prepared early as lack of such guidance can contribute to harmful behaviour,” he said.

He noted that people who abuse alcohol and drugs at a young age put themselves at various health and social risks.