More than 40 residents of Golden Age Home in Lautoka to benefit from a new 35-seater wheelchair accessible special bus

40 plus residents of the Golden Age Home in Lautoka will now be able to benefit from the new 35-seater wheelchair accessible special bus which has been donated by Japan.

While receiving the Golden Age Home special bus and commemorating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day at the Western Disability Centre, Minister of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar says this will truly add inspiration and support wellness for the residents.

Akbar says the special bus, which was constructed by PA Lal Trading Pte Limited will allow for regular social gatherings outside the home and visits to recreational spaces in their local region.

Akbar emphasized that the Fijian Government’s commitment to older persons is protected under the 2013 Constitution and has provided for a wide range of socio-economic rights.

She adds these rights include rights to education, access to health care, housing and sanitation, reasonable access to transportation, food security and safe water, and social security schemes.

Minister also say Government has lowered the eligibility age for the Social Pension Scheme to 65 years as opposed to 70 years of age when it was initiated in 2013.

The Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan Tanaka Kenichiro says the bus is worth $279,000 and the project is being implemented under the Government of Japan’s Grassroots Grant Assistance Scheme.

Kenichiro adds they have funded 415 Grassroots Grant projects for the sustainable development of Fiji since 1990 which are collectively worth more than US$31 million.