Friday, March 29, 2024

Stating the case why we must look after the elderly and vulnerable-PART II

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Some elderly Zambian women

By Sakala Jacob
Registered Nurse Working in the UK

CONTINUED FROM PART I

Stating the case why we must look after the elderly and vulnerable-PART I

I was having a chat with one of my Zambian GP friends in the United Kingdom about Physiological changes that happen to the aged and how they are managed in the developed world and we were looking at the delivery gap in the third world in general. May be it is truly time to set up partnerships and meet these Gaps, government good will is required.

In saying this I echo the words of wisdom from Mr Lackson Kazabu requesting the Diaspora to help create jobs back home. May be such partnerships are key. Deliberate policy is required. I am saying this to pre empty your condemnation of me being an arm chair critic from the confines of Europe, I love Zambia, my blood flows Zambian and will ever be, that is why I plead the best for every Zambian.[pullquote]Its not the money we have put in the Bank or invested when we are well that will look after us but the systems we have put in place.[/pullquote]

A huge amount of money in the developed world is channeled towards alleviating this problem. Medicine and professional care to ensure safety and standards of care are met. It has created the bulk of jobs in the west as it is essential, would do the same in Zambia if explored. Aspects of medicine and care for the Elderly and Mentally ill are specialised.

Two weeks I lost a wonderful Grand Mother on my wife’s side, she was 84 in Kwacha Kitwe.She had piercing pain in the chest complained about it for a short while and suddenly died.This to me is a typical case of Heart Attack that lead to death.How many of these deaths do we experience in Zambia?what do we attribute them to? A Kalumba? Witchcraft?

You can replicate these stories of our senior citizens dying of cardiac arrests in our arms and homes.A robust Ambulance and paramedic system is critical to attend to these emergencies in our homes-a 999 or 911 facility.Suffice to say that this does not affect the elderly alone but even our young people;our policy makers as well,former and current Presidents;what has been done about it? Are we awaiting another incident?

With a specialised unit for management of strokes most of the stroke patients do recover very well.We need these services in our country.A robust ambulance service again goes with a good road network.In the west United Kingdom it’s often within 5 minutes response time.These are achievable services,we did achieve this during ZCCM time,we had a robust Ambulance system.

Strokes and cardiac arrests due to burst blood vessels,weak blood valves and clots which are common in the elderly due to ageing.It is therefore not un usual for the elderly to be on Aspirin permanently and warfarin type of drugs to prevent blood clots.Lots of them do take medication for Hypertension.Anti cholesterol medication -Statins-are routine in the elderly.Blood tests need to be done for INRs with these medication consistently(In medical terms INR stands for International Normalized Ratio. It measures how long it takes for the blood to clot) .A good laboratory investment in all districts cannot be overstated.Its a must and need to be equiped.

Rehabilitation is therefore a necessity.Rehabillitation units assist the elderly to recover most of the lost functions due to strokes.They need to be equipped and must be in every District.

In Zambia we do not like to take medicine.In the West it is a way of life and in my view that is the difference between a short and sustained life.Our compliance to medication is poor hence rendering our lives short.We do not like to see a Doctor and often we see one when it is critical.Our preventative medicine needs enhancement.It is common to see someone by the age of 70 taking not less than 20 tablets a day,my Dad who is 78 takes only one tablet,is he so health that he does not need the extra tablets.

The Elderly suffer from urinary tract problems as well.The Kidneys and bladder shrink and it is not un usual that they develop an enlarged prostate or at worse cancer of the Prostate.These need to be screened and checked not only at UTH by my big brother Dr Francis Manda but everywhere where the elderly are.They may be prescribed permanent medication in the form of hormones to help control the size of the prostate gland or be operated upon.The enlarged prostate impedes on urine flow,not un common as well to find elderly with in dwelling catheters or supra pubic catheter which need trained staff to insert and care for.When I work out here in the West I wonder every day whether they are no elderly people that need these services in Zambia.

The immune system of the elderly weakens and are susceptible to various infections needing quick treatment and referral.
I care for a lot of elderly people on thyroxine hormone replacement tablets,tests are frequently done for thyroid functioning test.As much as we have an enlarged thyroid problem in Zambia known as the Goitre, I still think we also have a problem of hypothyroidism.
Care at home is what we must focus on as we are able to look after our own in our homes since we are not highly industrialised.We need specialised institutions for RESPITE care where those caring for the elderly and the vulnerable can take them so that they can also have a break for a short while.

I can go on and on.But the major point is as we are fit and well we should think about the time when we shall be un fit,old and vulnerable.Its not the money we have put in the Bank or invested when we are well that will look after us but the systems we have put in place.Alot of people have a misconception that our investments will look after us when we grow infirm,not always.We need to develop workable systems to do that.If you have a cardiac arrest you need an ambulance with trained staff and equipped.You need to be transferred to a unit to be managed etc flights to Johannesburg for treatment must not be a solution those are quick fix solutions to a problem for the rich and the privileged in the corridors of power.What about the masses.What about those in Shangombo,Chadiza,Chama and Mununga?

A workable effective social services is another thing our elderly people need.If we spend money on the elderly to feed them and allow them a decent life we will be living up to the tag of a true Christian nation.The Government needs to pour money in meeting the health needs and care of the elderly.Facilitating care of the elderly needs to extend to their homes and villages.Some one maybe saying where does the money come from?From the money we waste in corruption activities and other forms of greed.If we as a nation genuinely lobby for funds for care of the elderly it will be granted because the West is grappling with this problem right now.It’s a genuine cause to lobby money for.

ZCCM did well to send its people for training and attachments to the developed world.Government can attach people to institutions to the developed world to train and learn what needs to be done.I still think ZCCM approach was the best if it was emulated for the rest of the country today Zambia would have been miles a head.Most of the Diaspora Highly Skilled Zambian Nurses and Doctors and other specialised Professionals are willing to provide expertise and knowledge even for free to ensure the critical aspects of our economy are attended to.Identification of these people is easy and group them into adhoc advisory committees.Some are willing to come back home for half or a quarter of what they earn wherever they are as long as seriousness is implored,systems are put in place,equipment is purchased,staff are trained etc

We need to make it better for all.Elderly care is not only about washing and cleaning them up.It is about all these highly specialised aspects and coordinating the services.You require skill,knowledge and tact to discharge these services.I can go on and on.There is much more that affects the elderly and there care.I merely stating a case for care cause one day I will be an old man needing all these.
KALEBALIKA !

14 COMMENTS

  1. This is the most insightful medical article I ever read.Such wisdom.Hats of to you brother.Indeed we need to look after our elderly and its time Zambia had a top class medical system.We did it on the copperbelt during ZCCM.We can do it even now.government please we appeal to you,to improve social services,transportation in Zambia so every thing the author of the article has highlighted comes to fruition in our land.We love Zambia even though we are abroad and would fly back in a heart beat to help roll out such a project.

  2. Sakala why cant you go back to your country and start championing the cause of the elderly people instead of just barking from that country where we go for holidays and shopping? We are tired of such people who just bark from afar! Stop behaving like Clive Chirwa who can expound on engineering designs but there is no single properly designed toilet in his village! Just continue enjoying washing old white people’s backs! I wish you could be doing that at Chibolya old people’s home in Mufulira! Right now iam in china trying to see how i can expand my company so that i employ more zambians! Keep barking mwana!

    • I totally agree with the author of this article. I lost two grand mothers in a pace of 5 years. One had the previlage of being given the care by western standard and the other, died prematurelly after a short illness which could have been prevented with quick response in medical care (am not complaining). I still salute the health professionals who attended to her despite their limited resources. Such negative response like that of Mr/Ms Pwele above will never develop this idea even when possibilities are there. It will just dampen the spirit of those willing to help regardless. Am more than happy to wash the old peoples backs (even your nana ba Pwele). Unless am immune to old age or have no aging relatives then yes I would gladely row the boat with you. Good luck in China :)

    • When you say you are tired of people barking from afar, I suppose you are including yourself in that category. I totally agree with Sakala’s article and as the saying goes if you have nothing good to say then you well just shut your gob!

      Implementation of ideas starts from such aspirational ideas such as the one from Sakala’s article.

      If you are learning to expand your company, isnt the best place to do that in good old Zambia? What a hypocrite, probably one of Michaels many throw-backs sent away worldwide and cant stand anyone talking sense!

  3. Unfortunately, in Zambia we are still struggling with the most basic thing namely; food (Kaondes – kajho; bembas – ukulya; Lozis – kucha; Tongas – kulya). Just putting food on the table in our country called Zambia is a very big problem. How can we even plan about life during one’s old age. We can’t…!!!

  4. Sorry I misspelt your name Sir/Madam I meant to say Ba Pwete. By the way the old adage can never be more emphasised than now, ‘Where there is a will, there is always a way’ =d>

  5. In villages old people have carers. They appoint these people among themselves – very clever villagers. In the cities and towns, people tend to keep to themselves. We need proper care homes for elderly and children in Zambia. Hospitals are for sick people – so let us have care homes where communities can look after their people-in-need. Old people are not a burden – they just lost the ability to care for themselves. JOB CREATION POSSIBLE FROM THIS INNOVATION

  6. FORGET about putting food in your mouth madam. Some Zambian children stay for days without food. It is the Zambian way – we do not care about the neighbour but we love God for all to see. For us to progress, we must start caring about one another. Feed the communities. Churches in USA feed street children and homeless people. Yes, there are homeless people in the USA and Zambians what UKULYA – FOOD to be brought to them

  7. Sometimes what we lack is a purely fore sighted article with facts to be written in a honest and straight forward manner.I have followed Jacob’s articles and I have a feeling he is too advanced for Zambian times.We would not want to talk about Old age in Zambia it looks taboo and a mystery.We seem to pay attention to non issues and politicking;less developmental and intellectual content.I have learnt a lot and hoping the powers that be will be insightful.

  8. good article ba Sakala,I like reading your articles,  now lets get practical send some money to your village in Chipata to drill a bole hole for water. That will help prevent the old people from water borne diseases.  Another suggestion buy them a car to use as “ambulance” to take your  old people to the nearest clinic. There are many ways you could help your people in your village with the money you are making “uku ku ma ngalanda”.

  9. This is the well known truth that everybody is going to old one day and when we get old we loose our potential to take care of ourselves so in that condition if someone is there to help us then it would be the best thing because old members of our family needs extra care and love so we need to provide them a help service 24 hours a day. for ensuring that our loved ones are safe and healthy we can hire a home help
    services
    for them as its will be very beneficial for them.

  10. Are there any organisations that will support work in this area for care of the elderly particularly with stroke experience? I work in the uk in this area and am interested in working in zambia with older people. how do i find work within the lusaka area? I am a trained nurse and have a lot of african experience.

  11. we as zambians can stand up and care for the elderly ones, lets not wait for the government to do so, we are the government and together we can do it, remember without them we wouldnt have been here, they brought our parents in this world and our parents brought us as well, lets come together and care for them, we are growing and one day we will become old so if we neglect them the same will happen to us we will reap what we will sow it doesnt matter who’s relative they are the fact is they are old and they need to be cared for, some of us have neglected our mothers, fathers, grandmothers/fathers in some homes where they receive little care and yet we as there children are still alive, they are dying ne chikonko simply because they are lacking love and care from us, WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER.

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