Egyptian social solidarity minister displays benefits offered to senior citizens

CAIRO – 30 October 2022: In the ceremony held to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons marking October 1, Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Qabaj displayed Saturday evening the services and benefits offered by the ministry to senior citizens.

Those include dispensing monetary subsidies to 500,000 citizens aged above 60 through Takaful w Karama programme, as well as funding and running 164 retirement houses, 76 physiotherapy centers, and 192 clubs dedicated to old people.

Furthermore, the ministry covers 50 percent of the price of public transportation tickets purchased by citizens aged between 60 and 70. Also, the ministry is the governmental body in charge of managing and disbursing pensions to a total of 6.5 million in Egypt.  

In her speech, Minister Qabaj noted that Article 83 of the constitution provides that the state is bound to maintain the health, social, economic, cultural, and entertainment rights of senior citizens. That is in addition to providing them with pensions that would ensure a decent life, empowering them to participate in the public life, and encouraging NGO's to direct services to senior citizens.

The minister equally showcased that the rights of older people is also included in the National Strategy for Human Rights launched by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

Qabaj added that the House of Representatives is currently discussing a draft law submitted by the Cabinet on the rights of senior citizens, and that it is expected to be passed by the end of 2022.