From recent estimates, there are 1.8 million people in Uganda over the age of 55 years old. Many of the elderly people in Uganda are facing a number of issues. According to reseach findings, some of the issues that they face are:
- Poverty
- Lack of Income
- Ill health and lack of health care
- Water, sanitation and personal hygiene
- HIV/AIDS Pandemic
- Abuse
Elderly people who reside in rural areas are even more vulnerable to these issues. They have less access to clean water, income generating economic activity and health care.
Israel Inspiration Foundation (IIF) is active in providing support to the elderly in the societies in which we work. We do this primarily through supply of food and other basic needs.
Due to the rampant poverty and lack of income, elderly people will frequently find themselves without enough food. It is also common that they do not have the energy or good health to grow their own food, which is the practise in many areas of Uganda where subsistence agriculture is the main source of food for families.
Historically, families in Uganda have taken care of their elderly relatives. However, because of the AIDS pandemic, the social networks that were responsible for taking care of the elderly have broken down. In addition, the high rates of unemployment all over the country means that people are no longer able to take care of their elderly relatives in the way that they would have wanted to.
In fact, the elderly grandparents are having to take care of their grandchildren who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. Even though the government of Uganda came in to give monthly support of $35 per month, this help is not sufficient and the programme has yet to reach certain sections of the country.
Our basic needs supply programme is carried out through the help of faithful partners. We provide mainly dry foodstuffs and other needs which are distributed on a monthly basis.