Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
President surprises elderly at Geriatric clinic
By Leon Suseran
The elderly were given a pleasant surprise on Sunday when President Ramotar turned up at the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) second Mega- Geriatric Clinic. The BRHA had teamed up with the Port Mourant Arya Samaj to host the clinic which saw over 200 elderly Berbicians receiving medical treatment for various ailments and health conditions such as stroke, diabetes, weakness, dehydration, hypertension, and the common cold.
There were some eight doctors, seven of whom were specialists, on this leg of the clinic. The BRHA transported the elderly to and from the clinic location, which was the Port Mourant Arya Samaj mandir.
Pres. Ramotar and a wheel chair bound patient at the clinic.
President Ramotar received a warm welcome. He interacted and joked with the senior citizens.
He also presented a wheelchair and handed over other items such as toilet seats, to the other senior citizens present.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BRHA, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, said that the BRHA has taken the initiative to have specialist-care for the elderly, those persons 60 years and over, “because our population is an aging one now.”
Additionally, every health centre in Berbice has at least one day every week devoted to senior citizens.
The geriatric clinics, he noted, have been ongoing in the past and will continue. Similar clinics have been held in the Skeldon and Number 69 Village.
Next month East Canje will be the venue for the next clinic.
“At a clinic like this, you have general medicine. We also have the Psychiatrist because older people suffer from things like insomnia, Parkinsonism and dementia.” A rehab team is also present at each clinic to educate the older folks about arthritis and pains about the joints, “ and what exercises they need to do.”
And there’s an added bonus. Our older folk can attend these clinics and have their physical appearance enhanced quite dramatically. “Beauticians do nail and hair care; clipping nails, so we have a complete thing.”
BRHA employees, among them Melissa Ramdeen, also do foot massages on the older folks, and screening to check for poor circulation in their feet. There are checks for the nerve sensitivity in their feet, and for the development of ulcers. “So it’s a general clinic.”
Doctors also performed lecturers on nutrition, educating the older folks on what foods they should and should not eat, “how they should prepare their food and what they should avoid.”
Dr. Mahadeo stated that the older people around the country deserves this and much more. He thanked Pandit Kamaldeo Dhannessar of the Arya Samaj; one of the main doctors who organized and helped with the event, Dr. Vinashri Khirodhar for taking up the initiative, “because I always say, the government alone cannot do it. We need the community—we need the faith- based organizations.”
Dr. Khirodhar, who took up the challenge, said, “The elderly population is overwhelmingly large in these areas. (This clinic) covered from Bush Lot to all the way to Number 19 area.”
The President hands over a toilet seat to this elderly person at the clinic.
Every Friday, she stated, that she will continue the clinic at the Port Mourant Health Centre where they can execute their follow- ups for further treatment.
At the clinic on Sunday, too, wheelchairs, walkers, pampers, and walking- aids were also distributed to those in need.
“We just want to provide a quality service to these people in their old age so they can age gracefully, and at the same time, very healthy,” she added.
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