10 Nov 2019

Emphasis has been paid on the need to give the elderly solid support and recognise them as essential elements of the society.

Guest speaker during the elderly wellness day in Letlhakane recently, Ms Kolobetso Seabe, Orapa Junior Secondary School head, said the elderly deserved recognition given their contribution towards the foundation and developments of the country.

She said they had played an essential role in preserving the culture and traditional beliefs, which were crucial in moulding behaviour of the young generation.

She said it was the traditional beliefs which had helped to ensure that Botswana remained a peaceful nation.

For her part, Dr Poloko Kebabetswe stated that the elderly often spent time alone, which had exposed them to boredom, which she said was hazardous to health and linked to an early death.

She said boredom was more like a disease that could destroy somebody’s life given the emotional and occasional psychological state experienced when one was left alone.

Dr Kebabetswe, therefore, cautioned that boredom could lead to diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.

 She encouraged the elderly to engage more in physical exercise. ENDS