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The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, has stated that her ministry and the Ministry of Health are working to mainstream geriatric care into Ghana�s health delivery system. The act, which is underway, is to enable the aged access special geriatric care without any hassle, she stated. Nana Oye Lithur made this known at a donation to over 600 aged in Cape Coast as part of the ministry�s expanded mandate to cater for the aged in society. The items donated were oil, toiletries, rice and cloth to show government�s support for them. Nana Oye Lithur stated that it was appropriate and necessary to provide safety nets for the aged after they have contributed their quota to national development. According to her, as a pointer, a national advisory committee was inaugurated by the ministry to develop the National Ageing Bill, which has already been finalised. The Minister noted that her ministry, in collaboration with the National Health Insurance, has registered about 4,000 aged persons above 65 years out of the targeted 10,000 on the NHIS. She recounted that early this year her ministry, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA), launched the �EBAN Elderly Welfare Card� to enable the elderly have priority in accessing social services. In her explanation, she stated that the card will exempt the aged in joining long queues at banks, hospitals and in the use of commercial transport in the country. �The project, which is in its pilot stages, have been issued to 1,200 aged persons 65 years and above in the Greater Accra Region,� she held. Nana Oye Lithur noted that an �Ageing Desk� has been established at the ministry to address issues affecting the elderly in order to come up with specific interventions to promote the welfare of the elderly. She thanked Ghana Airport Limited, Direct Aid Ghana, Lordina Mahama Foundation, Japan Motors, Coca Cola Ghana Limited, Ministry of Trade and Anglogold Iduapriem for their support in making the donations successful. The Deputy Central Regional Minister, Queenster Pokua Sawyerr, reiterated the government�s commitment in caring for and protecting the aged in the country. She commended the Ministry of Gender for not resting on its oars in ensuring that the life, rights and liberties of the marginalised are protected. Ms Sawyerr stated that caring for the elderly should not only be the responsibility of government but all individuals, especially the youth. �It is through it that the elderly can share their rich experiences with the youth,� she said. Three persons were awarded for their long service to the country in various fields: Mr Augustus K.B. Addison, a sanitation officer; Samuel Dacoski, a health worker; and Esther Botchway, a philanthropist, were all given a plaque and an undisclosed amount of money.