Akai Analog TV - Problem with Remote

I have an Akai TV (Model CT-2167AT) which I've had for 11 years. It's still

working 100% and I want to keep using it as I'm happy with it -
furthermore 
it was a gift from my parents. The only problem I have is that some
buttons 
on the remote are no longer working, and I'm pretty certain it can't be 
properly fixed.

I've had it fixed one time in the past and it didn't work for long 
afterwards. I could cope without the remote but the buttons on the TV are
so 
small that it's just to difficult to operate it without the remote. I
tried 
a couple of universal remotes but they didn't work. Can anybody suggest 
something to fix this problem without changing the TV.

Regards - Paul