VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Citizens Engagement Platform Seychelles (Ceps) used a press conference at its headquarters yesterday to call for strategic reforms in anticipation of a rapidly ageing population, marking Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Day, which coincides with Thursday’s State-of-the-Nation Address.
Chief executive of Ceps, Alvin Laurence, said more work has to be done to address ageing-related issues, including the setting up of day care centres to support the elderly and the need for more health care workers in the country. ‘There are needs for a strategy before it is too late, and also how resources can be allocated towards achieving this objective,’ he said, noting that the activity formed part of the wider NGO week programme under the theme ‘Empowering Grassroots Movements for a Sustainable Future’.
Board chairperson Dr Odile De Comarmond and board member Jean-Claude Matombe joined the briefing. Mr Laurence added that day care centres, training of caregivers and stronger coordination between ministries and civil society are immediate priorities. Ceps said it will present a set of recommendations to government in the coming weeks, ahead of the SONA, arguing that the country cannot afford to wait for the demographic curve to deepen before acting.
