Maulanians pledge better deal for the aged

New Delhi, Sep 3 (UNI) To tackle the growing problems of the elderly, Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) has evolved a holistic strategy aimed at improving their health status, entailing curing their multiple medical complications and providing better health facilities for the aged.

"Care for the elderly' will be the focus area for the fraternity of MAMC in the Golden Jubilee Year of its existence. The celebrations in this regard were launched by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Saturday.

The programme is entitled 'Maulanians Initiative for Care of Elderly(MICE)' and MAMC Dean Arun Kumar Aggarawal described it as "revolutionary in its approach".

Dr Aggarwal said donations have started pouring in from the alumnus of the college and there is commitment from them that they will give priority to the aged during the course of their practice.

India's booming population of one billion people and improved life expectancy has led to an increasinly large number of people being in the age category of 60 and above. There are now 77 million elderly people in India and their number is expected to touch 178 million by 2030.

The majority of the elderly are poor and live in rural areas.

They have little hope of escaping poverty and their situation becomes worse as they get older. They are increasingly plagued by chronic health problems. Impoverished elderly women face a particularly difficult situation.

Unfolding the agenda of 'MICE,' Dr Aggarwal said monthly camps will be organsied in rural and urban areas of the capital in the service of the elderly. The camps will focus on creating awareness relating to the problems confronted by the aged and providing health care to them.

He said hospitals and clinics administered by Maulanians will give priority treatment to the elderly.

The under privileged are to be targeted to benefit from the 'Liver Transplant Programme' and other high tech medical facilities he added.

Dr Aggarwal said all Departments are to enhance the scope of learning and education by organising 'Continuing Education Programme'(CME) for doctors. Public lectures will be held for educating the masses.

He said concerted efforts would be made with top echelons of the government for establishing a 'Health Care Facility' dedicated to providing top class service to the grey population.

The college will also make efforts with the Medical Council of India (MCI) for including Geriatrics in core curriculum.

The theme of the mega conclave planned for August- September 2008 will focus on problems confronting the aged. This will involve lectures with leading experts from different fields of medicine and other than medical science.

Dr Aggarwal said focussing on a particular theme is helpful and cited the case of pediatrics in this regard. He said there was a time when pediatrics was not a separate field of study, but ever since this has been done its content and delivery have improved.

Dr N P Singh, Professor of Medicine at MAMC and Secretary of the Golden Jubilee Celeberations Committee, said by the year 2050, projections are that 21 per cent of India's population will be 60 plus. The most common diseases afflicting the elderly are hypertension, cataract, osteoarthritis, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, benign prostatic bypertrophy, dyspepsia, constipation and depression.

''MAMC being a caring institution and one which would want the most vulnerable to get a better deal would focus special attention on the care for the elderly,'' Dr Singh added.

UNI