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International Day of Older People PM reiterates commitment to enhance life, healthcare quality of senior citizens Urges sustained efforts to eliminate polio, hepatitis from Pakistan

02-10-2024

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reiterated the commitment to implement policies that eventually enhance senior citizens’ quality of life, ensuring access to healthcare, social services and active community participation. The Prime Minister, in a message on International Day of Older People observed on Tuesday, pledged to create an inclusive society that valued and supported its elder population. This year’s theme “Aging with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide,” highlights our critical responsibility to safeguard the rights and well-beings of older individuals, he said. “I extend my heartfelt greetings to our senior citizens and acknowledge their immense and invaluable contributions to our society. Our senior citizens are the custodians of our history, the bearers of wisdom and the anchors of our families,” he added. He said: Older people are the true guides for our younger generation, providing invaluable wisdom and experiences that can help create a more resilient, tolerant, and compassionate society.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the incumbent governments vision was to empower elder members of the society, ensuring that every senior citizen felt valued, their voices were heard, and they continued to share their wisdom and insight. “Let us work together to build a tolerant society where every citizen is valued and our senior citizens receive the care and respect they deserve,” he added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday stressed the urgent need to eradicate polio and hepatitis in the country through sustained efforts, similar to the successful elimination of Trachoma, a contagious eye infection that causes inflammation on the inner eyelids. Speaking at a function where Dr Lou Dapeng, Head of Mission for the World Health Organization in Pakistan, presented a Trachoma-free Pakistan certificate to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he said that the certificate symbolized the dedication of the Health Ministry and other stakeholders in the effort to eliminate the disease. Trachoma is a disease caused by infection by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium and can result in irreversible blindness if left untreated. This achievement marks a significant milestone in public health. The prime minister directed the relevant authorities to sustain their hard work and dedication, emphasizing that such efforts could elevate Pakistan to new heights of excellence, as long as they were prepared to tackle the challenges ahead.