SUVA, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Fijians were urged on Wednesday to prepare for larger ageing population, as the country is expected to have more than 28,000 aged 60 and over by 2050.
According to a government statement, speaking at celebrations to mark the International Day of Older Persons in Ba, western Fiji on Wednesday, Fiji's Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa said that longer lives must be planned for, as societal ageing may affect economic growth and many other issues, including the sustainability of families, the ability of states and communities to provide resources for older citizens, and international relations.
"In 2015, Fiji's older population comprised 9.3 percent of the total population and is expected to reach nearly 20 percent of the population in 2050. This brings to reality the need to prepare ourselves for an ageing population," she said.
Fiji's older persons category is defined as aged 60 and over, and this population has steadily increased since 2000. In 2010, the number of older persons aged 60 and over stood at 69,300. By 2050, it is estimated to stand at 170,500.
The Fijian government's commitment to the care of the nation's elderly population is strengthened in the 2013 constitution, National Ageing Policy, the National Council of Older Persons and pension schemes by the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation.
According to the minister, the Fijian government had also lowered the eligibility age for the Social Pension Scheme to 65 years of age as opposed to 70 years. The government has also doubled the pension from 50 Fijian dollars (about 23.4 U.S. dollars) to 100 Fijian dollars (about 46.7 U.S. dollars) per month for beneficiaries as of last year.
Every older person aged 60 and over now has benefited from the 100 percent bus fare concession by the Fijian government and the Fiji Bus Operators Association.
