KARACHI, Oct 1: Senior Citizens of Sindh have urged that zakat funds be made available for provision of free health care and medication needs of aged and retired members of the society.

These citizens, representing different segments of society, in a meeting organised by Senior Citizen Advisory Council, to commemorate International Seniors Citizen regretted non-existence of social security system.

It was pointed out that ageing people exposed to deterioration in their physiological and biological capacities, with every passing day, do require necessary and regular medical assessment, besides intervention.

It is important that relevant funds, including zakat available with the government, is utilized to support the senior citizens, the participants said.

Moreover, in the backdrop of changing social norms and concept of joint families being replaced by nuclear family further compliment by the growing trend of younger generation preferring to seek employment abroad, the participants suggested the need for voluntary institutions and senior citizen clubs at all town and district levels.

They, however, discarded any suggestion for old homes maintaining that a large majority of younger generation do want to have their elders around, however economic constraints do remain a harsh fact.

Any state level arrangement under which health care facilities besides mental and social occupation of elderly members could help addressing the problem.

Ms Shireen Rehmatullah, President, Senior Citizens Council for Sindh, underscored the need for motivating the educated senior citizens through arrangement by local government which could come forward with programmes streamlining the capabilities of experienced and qualified professionals leading retired lives.

The meeting was also addressed by medical practitioners, including Dr Nilofer (Physiology Department, Dow University of Health Sciences) and Dr Anees Allana, an ENT surgeon.

They provided important information to the participants as how to control health condition as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis etc.

Health lifestyle with provision for healthy mental and physical occupation and positive social activity was cited key for wellbeing.

Ms Akram Khatoon (vice president, Senior Citizen’s Council — Sindh), Adil Fatima Rizvi (Secretary, Senior Citizen’s Council - Sindh) besides Shabbir Memon and Anwar Hussain Siddiqui also spoke.

The meeting was addressed by council’s members from Hyderbad, Sukkur, Larkana and Karachi.—APP