THERE is no excuse ever for the abuse of our elderly citizens.
Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Penioni Ravunawa made this statement for all Fijians yesterday during the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day celebration in Nasinu.
“No situation, no hardship, no frustration, no injustice can justify it,” Dr Ravunawa said, adding that no one should suffer in silence.
He said far too often, elder abuse remained hidden — covered with shame, fear or denial.
“Today (yesterday), we pull back the veil, we remove the curtain. We say to every older person, you are not alone, we will stand with you.
“To the families, to the carers of our elderly citizens, friends and neighbours, please do not look away. Lend a loving hand, speak up, show up.
“And above all, give your time, your compassion and your love to your elderly. That is the greatest gift of all.”
The World Health Organization found that one in six persons aged 60 and above experienced some form of abuse — in community settings, settlements, and villages.
“This is more than just a statistic, it is a call to conscience. It is a voice crying out for justice and we must not ignore this.”
He said these numbers rose tragically during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in care homes and institutional settings.
“As our population continues to age, the risk grows larger.
“Elder abuse is not distant or rare — it can be found in our community, in our villages, in our settlements, in our homes and sometimes heartbreakingly within our very own families.”
He said the consequences of abuse — which comes in many forms — could be devastating.
