NCSC to Focus on Men Centenarian Day
May 22, 2012The Full Story
The National Council on Senior Citizens (NCSC) will be stepping up its activities for 2012, beginning with Centenarian Day, to be observed on May 22.
Dubbed, ‘Seniors in Action’, this year’s Centenarian Day seeks to highlight the importance of senior citizens, and importantly, the work that they have done over the years, said Executive Director at the Council, Mrs. Beverly Hall Taylor.
"For this year’s Centenarian Day, we will be focusing on the men, because we realise that over the years, the focus is normally on women. We also recognise that there are not a lot of centenarian males in our programme, so this year is dedicated especially for them," she said.
She informed JIS News that a male centenarian has been identified in each parish, and special groups will be conducting home visits to show appreciation.
Mrs. Hall Taylor added that the Council will also be bringing greetings, and will be presenting each centenarian with a gift, to bring a sense of joy.
"We are aware that there are a number of senior citizens living in various communities, so we are encouraging (community) members to also visit the centenarians, to have devotion with them, or just to socialise," she said.
Mrs. Hall Taylor outlined that the observance of centenarian day is in tandem with Jamaica’s 50th anniversary, and will provide centenarians with the opportunity to share some history about Jamaica in the past.
She also pointed out that this particular group is the foundation of society, and special emphasis should be placed on their contribution to nation building throughout their years.
"We aim to bring some delight to this sector of the society, because one hundred years of existence is a milestone in anyone’s life, and should be highly recognised,” she emphasised.
Supporting organisations of Centenarian Day include the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), the Social Development Commission (SDC), the Church, and Citizen Associations.
For more information on Centenarian Day, persons can contact the Council at 926-2374 or 906-9277-8.
By Jeneva Gordon, JIS PRO