Guatemala City, Nov 15 (AGN).- The Guatemalan Government established as priority Comprehensive care for the country’s older adults, through social programs that support them with health, food and economic contributions.
In commemoration of National Day of the Elderly, which is celebrated every November 15 since 2009 in Guatemala, several entities promote activities in favor of this sector of society.
The National Day of the Elderly is celebrated according to Decree 25-2009 of the Congress, which promotes the integral health of the elderly to provide them with a better quality of life.
Economic contribution program
The Government of Guatemala continues to promote the Economic Contribution Program for the Elderly, which to date has notified 62,565 new beneficiaries, according to data from the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (Mintrab).
During the administration of President Alejandro Giammattei, new beneficiaries have increased to a total of 62,565 older adults who receive the contributionsaid the Minister of Labor, Raphael Rodriguez, at a press conference on November 7.
The official stressed that this increase was due to the fact that Congress approved an increase in the program’s budget.
He also reported that this initiative prioritizes people over 65 who live in the province of the country.
This program prioritizes 95% of its execution in rural areas and only 5% in the municipalities of the department of Guatemala. In addition, it reaches the most distant places in the country, he pointed.
During the last three years, an expansion in coverage was reported in rural areas with a record of 142,738 currently active beneficiaries.
#GT Press Conference | Rafael Rodríguez, head of the @MINTRABAJOGuateon the Economic Contribution Program for the Elderly (#PAM): “”To date we have expanded the program to rural areas. The payroll has already reached 142,738 beneficiaries.” pic.twitter.com/EOotzJl7dx
– AGN (@AGN_noticias) November 7, 2022
Soup kitchens
The Government also promotes, through the Ministry of Social Development, programs for social and community kitchens.
To date, this entity has opened 66 soup kitchens in the national territory. This represents 7 million 531 thousand 468 food rations granted.
Of these, 3 million 20 thousand 63 have been breakfasts and 4 million 511 thousand 405 lunches. In addition, the figures are those that were registered until November 9 of this year.
This program mainly prioritizes older adults, pregnant and lactating women, and minors, said the head of the Development portfolio Melvyn Cana, at a press conference on Monday.
Similarly, the community kitchens seek to support the nutrition of the elderly and low-income families.
Complying with the President’s guidelines @DrGiammattei The Ministry of Social Development -MIDES- implemented the first community soup kitchen, promoting the purchase of inputs from local producers and involving neighbors and authorities in the organization of the soup kitchen. pic.twitter.com/8oUDabn3dA
— Mides (@midesgt) November 10, 2022
comprehensive care
The secretariats of Executive Coordination of the Presidency (SCEP) and Obras Sociales of the President’s Wife (SOSEP) They carry out mobile days of integrated services every year. As part of them, health care is provided.
In the 14 mobile days carried out during the year, vulnerable populations have been assisted, the majority of whom are older adults.
Meanwhile, the SOSEP has provided care to more than 12,000 older adults during the administration of President Alejandro Giammattei.
Through its official social networks, the entity reported that since 2020 12,190 seniors have been served.
#1000DíasAlServicioDelPaís#I’mSOSEP pic.twitter.com/U7HhMEMJUf
— SOSEP (@SosepGob) October 15, 2022
The institution is in charge of the program My Golden Years and executes social service actions to serve this sector of the population.
In addition, said project is designed to contribute to improving the quality of life of people over 60 years of age. This through its day care and permanent care centers.
The program contributes to comprehensive development, providing food, which consists of a snack in the morning, lunch, and a snack in the afternoon. Likewise, attention is provided to the requests of people who live in conditions of poverty or extreme poverty.
Also read:
What are community soup kitchens?
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