In an act carried out at the Presidential House on actions in favor of the rights of old age, the National Council for the Elderly Person (Conapam) and the Social Protection Board (JPS) have invested more than 151 billion colones, about 236 million dollars, to serve that population from 2018 to today.
In the accounting, they revealed that in that period Conapam transferred 85 billion colones, about 133 million dollars, in homes, day centers and care networks and the JPS more than 66 billion colones – some 103 million dollars- to organizations that serve the elderly.
Likewise, 30 smart centers were installed in organizations that serve older adults and the Gold Line 24/7 came into operation, they published the Second Report on the Status of the Older Adult Population and built the National Policy on Aging and Old Age 2021 -2031, among other actions.
Regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, 96 percent of older people already have the complete vaccination schedule against this disease, caused by SARS-CoV-2.
President Carlos Alvarado affirmed that Costa Rica must continue on the path of guaranteeing, strengthening and expanding the human rights of the elderly population, a necessity, given the accelerated aging of this population segment in the country.
“It is a duty that we have with the older adult population, whose contributions to society must be recognized by everyone. It is urgent and an inescapable task to strengthen Costa Rican institutions, so that there is never an older adult unprotected, “said the Costa Rican president.
Alvarado assured that guaranteeing the human rights of this segment of the population will make us a better country.
Official data shows that in a decade the current 663,000 older adults will increase to more than a million, which will mean an important challenge for the entire nation’s institutions.
For his part, the president of Conapam, Dennis Ángulo, stated that the older adult population forms a group that is increasing day by day and pointed out the urgency of reinforcing state investment, since there are many older people who are not covering their basic needs. .
In general, it is a population that requires more services and specialized attention, to which the institutions must give a timely and accurate response that guarantees their human rights, so that no one is left behind, Ángulo stressed.
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