Aramco honors elderly Saudis

Saudi Aramco celebrated World Aged Day with the participation of 120 elderly people and officials at its community social center in Jeddah on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Social Affairs Administration and Heath Directorate also participated in the celebration. The amusement programs that were reminiscent of ancient times in Jeddah such as the Hakawati (folk-style story telling) and Hijazi Majas (songs on spiritual themes) also featured in the event. Games of basketball, foosball, and tug of war were also organized on the occasion. Lutes and folk music were also played.Director of Aramco Affairs (Western Region) Nabil Baashan, Director of Health Affairs in Jeddah Dr. Sami Badwood and director of the Social Affairs Ministry’s Makkah province branch Abdullah Al-Tawi also attended the event, which carried the theme “Add life to years, not years to life.” The activities of the day also included health workshops on blood pressure, diabetes, health awareness, family and psychological counseling.“The World Aged Day is an opportunity to shed light on the issues of the aged and the need to take care of them by offering quality service in the sectors of health and social services. In fact, we should appreciate their service to the nation and society,” Badawood said.He also commended Saudi Aramco’s social responsibility services. Al-Tawi said there are more than 200 elderly people under the care of the Social Affairs Ministry in Makkah province, which included Jeddah, Makkah and Taif.Assistant Director of Primary Health Care and Preventive Medicine Dr. Sami Eid said World Aged Day this year focused on international agreements on the aged for health care, social services and rehabilitation if they were disabled. He said the health department has been providing all required services for the care of the elderly through primary health care centers. He added that steps were being taken to train officials in health care centers to take special care of the aged in addition to opening clinics for them.