Dr Kemal Aydin (Specialist Gerontologist/ Geriatrician and President of the World Aging Council) who hails from Turkey will be visiting 
South Africa as a guest of the National Awqaf Foundation of South Africa (AWQAF SA) during 6 -15 February 2015. He will be giving talks, conducting workshops, and also presenting at various fora in Erasmia/ Pretoria, Lenasia/Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town.
Concerns have been raised by several members of the community about the plight and needs of our elderly, frail, and terminally ill, especially in previously disadvantaged communities. For example Lenasia and surrounds with a population of an estimated over 250000 does not have adequate facilities to take care of the various needs of these vulnerable and marginalised elders / frail who are often subject to abuse by their families, or are often destitute and no one to care for them.
“The purpose of Dr Aydins visit is to provide ideas and guidance from his vast experience and knowledge of the caring, loving, and healing of our elderly, frail and terminally ill. He will also advise on the type of state-of-the-art facilities that should be established and provided” said Dr Abdul Karrim Elgoni from Awqaf SA. Dr Aydin will also visit existing facilities in SA.
Awqaf SA, the DarusShifa Project Committee, and the Islamic Medical Association has put together various programmes and urge the public and interested parties to attend. Full details of public programmes are available on awqafsa.org.za.
“The Awqaf SA DarusShifa Project embraces various possible services including home based care, day care, frail care, respite, and training for caregivers” said pharmacist Siddiq Tayob who chairs the Lenasia DarusShifa Project Committee. He added that Dr Aydins visit is timely as we are seeing more and more elderly and frail in dire straits and difficulties.
Srs Aziza Khan and Hasina Karriem, who are coordinating registrations for the Lenasia visit pleaded : “ We urge the community to take advantage of Dr Aydins visit by attending the “Elders & Frail Care Forum” to be held in Lenasia, Sunday, 8 February 2015, Full details may be obtained from website and online registration may also be done on awqafsa.org.za.” Those in Durban may attend the public talk being held at the Mariam Bee Hall, in Overport on Wednesday 13 February. 19.00- 21.00
(DarusShifa is an Arabic word meaning “Abode of Care, Love, and Healing”)
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Issued By: AWQAF SA
Press and Media Enquiries: Zeinoul 0847861409 Mickaeel 0822164269
info@awqafsa.org.za awqafsa.org.za
