Rohit Shishodia
Delhi-AIIMS, Healthy Aging India and Rotary Club of West Delhi have jointly launched a mobile healthcare van at Delhi-AIIMS on October 1, 2018, to provide free healthcare services in 21 old age homes of Delhi-NCR and at the residence of senior citizens neglected by their children.

The van was flagged off by Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Anil Baijal on the occasion of International Day for Elder Persons in the presence of Delhi-AIIMS, Director Randeep Guleria.

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Dr Prashun Chatterjee, Assistant Professor, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Delhi-AIIMS, told DTMT that the objective of this van is to provide comprehensive healthcare to senior citizens including their screening for Non-Communicable Diseases and provision of medicines.

Dr Chatterjee informed that the senior citizens would be motivated to continue their medicines after screening. The doctors would give physiotherapy to patients who are disabled and cannot walk or are affected with dementia. Such patients would also be rehabilitated.

“It is a hope for senior citizens staying at old age homes that would generate positivity among them. These activities are meant to make senior citizens feel that they are part of our society and they do not need to worry. Their loneliness would be addressed by this initiative,” said Dr Chatterjee.

Dr Chatterjee added, “The van would carry doctors of Geriatric department, Delhi-AIIMS, a Yoga doctor, nurses, two senior citizens and school children. The doctors will treat senior citizens while senior citizens accompanying the doctors would engage them and tell them they are still valuable to the society. Children would meet with senior citizens for inter-generational engagement. Next month we will launch another van that will visit villages of Delhi and slums.”

Dr Guleria said that this van would provide healthcare to people who suffer from age related diseases such as hypertension, eye problems, diabetes and heart diseases. Dr Guleria said that many elders suffering from theses diseases do not come to hospitals and get treated due to which their quality of life is affected. This van would address this problem.

Dr Guleria pointed out that there is a need to introduce more such mobile healthcare vans not only in cities but also in villages. “In cities, elders can be treated but in villages, they are not aware where to go and whom to meet for treatment. Such vans should visit small villages and inform villagers by messaging about location and timing of reaching the van so that they can also be treated,” added the AIIMS director.