Mobile medicare unit of HelpAge inaururated

Mathew Cherian, Chief Executive, HelpAge India, New Delhi (centre), inaugurating a new vehicle of the mobile medicare unit of HelpAge India in the city on Monday.T. Hyrunnisa's crinkled face brightened with a smile as the organisers called out her name. And with good reason, for she was to a get a brand new hearing aid. Hyrunnisa, 65, was one among the many senior citizens who had assembled at the office of the HelpAge India here on Monday to receive hearing aids, walking sticks and eyeglasses.

For those at old age homes who could not make it to the venue, the aids would be sent through staff of the homes who attended the programme organised by HelpAge India."More than 81 million people in India are above the age of 60 and 51 million among them have no access to proper food, clothing or medical care," said Mathew Cherian, Chief Executive of HelpAge India, New Delhi.

Inaugurating a new vehicle of the mobile medicare unit, he said making medical aid available to the elderly who had no access to it is one of the most important services of HelpAge India.Through this mobile unit, those in the rural areas could be reached.The organisation was also negotiating with the Central and State Governments to make the pension available to the elderly through the National Old Age Pension Scheme. The Government was giving Rs.400 as pension to the aged. But, not everyone was getting it, Mr. Cherian observed. The Government was also planning to issue the `Unorganised Workers Social Security Bill,' through which, people above 60, who had been labourers, agriculturists and in similar unorganised sectors would be paid Rs.200 as pension.

Similarly, the country was also not far behind the issuing of the Old Age Protection and Maintenance Bill, according to which children should provide maintenance to their parents, he said."While millions are spent on various things in the country, a few can be spent on looking after the aged too," Mr.Cherian said. HelpAge India also had a `Sponsor a Grandparent' programme in which they urged the wealthy to sponsor one elderly person. "We have over 18,000 sponsored people now."

Oommen George, Head of Medical Services, who distributed the aids to the aged, said one of the greatest problems of old age was deteriorating health. The aged became weaker, develop hearing difficulties, joint pain, bad eyesight and heart diseases. Improving the health condition of the millions of old people was one of the biggest challenges the country faced today, he said. Through the mobile medicare unit, the aged seeking help from the organisation could get access to quality medicines and medical care, said Indrani Rajadurai, Director of the Southern Region of HelpAge India.More than 200 walking sticks, 100 eye glasses and 50 hearing aids were distributed.

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