Mobile healthcare a boon for elderly poor

Hyderabad: Senior citizens living in slums can hardly afford to go to private hospitals and are unable to stand in long queues in government hospitals, but thanks to mobile vans of Help Age India, they are able to get treatment. Started in 2000, the service reaches out to 60 to 70 patients every day. There are five doctors and help from MNCs comes on a regular basis.

"Five days a week, medical vans visit various slums in the twin cities to provide free basic healthcare, medicine and also counseling. At present they are eight vans available to make around in the city. Each medical van has a doctor, paramedical staff and a social worker and medical services like a general check-up, fever or persistent cold is given to them," says Mohammed Raza Mohammed, state head of Help Age India, Telangana.

"We also try to give information on various diseases to the seniors along with educating them on the various preventive measures that can be taken to prevent the onset of any deadly disease. Apart from Hyderabad, we have this service in other Indian states also, said an official of Help Age India.

"We also set up a small diagnostic laboratory that can conduct blood tests, measure platelets and even tests for typhoid, malaria, and dengue. We try to give them proper medical treatment and if we come across any critical cases, then we suggest them to visit nearby government hospital, " said Dr Vittal Rao, general physician, Help Age India.