Radio sets planned for the elderly
GOVERNMENT
By BiztechAfrica – April 12, 2012, 9:25 a.m.
By John Churu, Gaborone, Botswana
A Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Local Government told some sections of the media that the government is carrying out assessments to determine how many old people are lonely and do not have anyone caring for them and also lack access to information with the aim of giving them radio sets to help them cope with the day’s stresses.
“Assessments are therefore being carried out to determine the number of such elderly people and calculate how much the project would cost should a decision be finally made that they receive radio sets,” explained Tigele Mokobi.
He said that this was after the government realised that there are elderly destitute persons who live alone and have no form of entertainment and as a result of not having radios, they do not have access to information,’ said the official.
“Since assessments are still ongoing, it is not known how many people would benefit from the initiative,” he said.
The elderly that would receive the radios would own them and would not have to account to government should they decide to sell them or get them damaged.