By Paul Nsomba

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Network of older Persons’ Organization (MENEPO) has asked stakeholders to be age sensitive and age inclusive during making agendas so that older men and women are part and parcel of development planning.

MANEPO Executive Director Andrew Kavala disclosed this in an answer to a questionnaire regarding issues affecting daily well being of the elderly amidst covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Andrew Kavala said, MANEPO has been engaging various decision makers including government on the need to ensure that information management on the spread and prevention reach out to the vulnerable older men and women in the communities.

“Since the case of covid-19 registered, MANEPO has been disseminating information deliberately tailored for the elderly stipulating measures initiated to combat the deadly disease through radios and televisions,” he said.

“Despite MANEPO advocacy on Covid 19, the medium used encountered with a stumbling block as 95% of the aged ,do not have access to the mode of communication therefore we have redesign the information management system so that no one is left behind,” Kavala explained.

Adding on recent activities, the director explained that his institution has distributed various items such as plastic buckets,soap, masks, sanitizers to help the fight against the fast spread of covid-19.

“I should commend all stakeholders who partnered with MANEPO during an exercise of helping these people but at the same time,l should urge all people of good will to follow suit,” he articulates.

MANEPO therefore has asked Members of Parliament (MPs) who are currently convening in the August house to also focus on issues which this marginalized group of people face.

On fresh presidential polls slated for June 23, 2020 in Malawi,the institution has pleaded with all players in the election process to observe rights of older persons so that they freely and peacefully vote.

According to the 2008 housing and population census 4.9% of population by then were older persons