Untold stories: Yezeshewal Eshete of EEPNA in Ethiopia

September 22, 2018 Semonegna Culture 0

W/ro Yezeshewal Esheteis the founding member of Ethiopian Elderly and Pensioners National National Association (EEPNA), a national umbrella institution of older people associations in Ethiopia. W/ro Yezeshewal had conducted the following interview with HelpAge International, a global network of organizations promoting the right of all older people to lead dignified, healthy and secure lives. Excerpts:

(HelpAge International)–I was born in a rural area called Wollo in north Ethiopia. Later I moved to the capital Addis Ababa for my education. I receive a pension and my daughters also support me.  
 
I worked in the Government for 35 years. Since retiring as a secretary in the Ministry of Finance, I have been involved in campaigning for older people’s rights. I am one of the founding member of Ethiopian Elderly and Pensioners National National Association (EEPNA).    
 
During my time at the Government office, I saw that many of my colleagues faced a lot of issues after their retirement. It was a complicated and difficult process for them to get pensions, and then these were so little that they were not able to meet their basic needs. I formed EEPNA and am now actively advocating for protection of older people’s rights.

Have you ever experienced discrimination because of your age?

I can’t remember any specific time when I have faced discrimination because I am an older woman. However, many older women and men in Ethiopia face a lot of discrimination. In hospitals, they don’t get proper treatment. You cannot find doctors who specialise in older people’s health issues. Lawyers and judges behave very rudely with older people, who then become reluctant to go to the courts to exercise their legal rights. 

Tell me about your proudest moments as a campaigner  

Campaigning as part of Age Demands Action makes me proud. We do many activities on international days, we meet with Government officials and do marches as well. Decision-makers have promised us many things in different meetings and events. Some of them promised to allocate land for older people’s shelters and others promised us healthcare, but still we are waiting for practical actions.  

What are you campaigning for right now, and how are you doing it? 

We are campaigning for income security and access to quality healthcare services in Ethiopia. We are meeting with Government officials, highlighting the issues at different forums and marching to raise awareness. 

Read the complete story at HelpAge International