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Executive Director; Geriatric Respite Care Foundation-Uganda (GRCF- U) Richard Semanda begins a three-year term as a Director of Board IAHSA
We were absolutely delighted to hear that CommonAge Ambassador, Richard Semanda, Executive Director; Geriatric Respite Care Foundation-Uganda (GRCF- U) began a three-year term as a Director of Board IAHSA in January 2016.
“The news of my nomination was received with great excitement,” says Richard, who felt the CommonAge scholarship to attend ACSA/ IAHSAjoint International Conference in Perth September 2015 contributed to his nomination.
“CommonAge Chairman Andrew Larpent said attending the joint ACSA/ IAHSAInternational Conference might change some of our lives and those of older persons in our respective countries – and indeed it has done,” he said. “There are significant developments taking place in Commonwealth countries, especially those in Sub Saharan Africa as result of this conference.”
Hilary Lee (left) and Jane Verity (right), Dementia Care Australia, with Richard Semanda on graduation day.
As a direct result of attending the conference, Dementia Care Australia sponsored Richard and his colleague Jesca Nakibirango for the innovative International Spark of Life Master Course in Perth, Western Australia. They now have the specialised knowledge and skills to educate, train families, communities, health professionals supporting people with dementia, and are pioneering the philosophy of Spark of Life in Uganda through Community Geriatric, Palliative and Dementia care Services.
Margie van Zyl Chapman, immediate past Chair of IAHSA and CommonAge Board member, says this underscores the power of global connections and collaboration for the greater good.
Richard believes that to improve Africa’s economy, there needs to be information on different issues affecting both older women and men. “These elders are most often the backbone of our families. They are vulnerable but invisible in our societies due to age and gender-based discrimination; women often have low levels or no education since the majority never went to school,” he highlights.
“As newly nominated member of the IAHSA Board of Directors, focusing on the advancement of ageing services in Africa, I will collaborate and engage with colleagues from communities to national levels to strengthen the interest of older persons in Africa, beginning with my own country Uganda, to help them take it to another level and to recognise older people among the marginalised,” said Richard. “In Africa we need a lot of advocacy to all stakeholders, especially the policy makers on the ageing population and the need for age-friendly services and cities.”
“With rapidly ageing populations and with communities that are not ready to face this challenge, I urge ageing programs in Africa to join and support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) education goal: Target 4.6: By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy,” said Richard. “Literacy training opportunities for older persons are scarce. However if governments, local and international funding agencies support literacy programs for older persons, they can participate fully in society. They will gain the skills to help improve their businesses, health, and nutrition.”
Richard believes this will also help in promoting both long-term care and active ageing. “For instance, if older people are educated, they will be able to read government information,” he highlighted. He is keen for this comprehensive strategy to target older women and men in refugee camps too.
Richard has already attended one IAHSA Board meeting and is keen to make a contribution to some of the working committees such as the Membership, Communication & Events committee or Quality, Research & Education committee.
“I wish to thank everybody for the great work you’re doing for the ageing population especially in Africa. “I know what it means to work in communities with knowledge gaps and limited resources to highlight the issues challenging this marginalised group,” said Richard. “I have started a data bank of contacts for any opportunity sharing in future. If you would like to know more, please email me at: agedtafu@yahoo.com or geriatricrespitefug@gmail.com .”
CommonAge Chairman Andrew Larpent comments: “With Richard on the IAHSA Board, Cameroon CommonAge ambassador Francis Njuakom on the IFA Board and CommonAge board member South African Margie Van Zyl Chapman’s continued role with IAHSA, the prospects for the advancement of ageing services in Africa look very bright.”
“CommonAge is committed to building the Global Ageing Network and reaching out to developing countries. My hope is that the three organisations can be steadily brought into closer alignment; maybe the engagement of colleagues in Africa in senior board positions can take us to new levels of international collaboration in the interests of older people throughout the world,” he concludes.
Margie also suggests that an African Hub on Ageing is in the making. “Greater collaboration and sharing of resources in the aged care sector between African countries and other parts of the globe will strengthen efforts to make ageing a priority on every agenda. There is great generosity of spirit for the greater good, and this needs to be harnessed,” she said.
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