Door-to-door basic health care for senior citizens in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Jan 31: Kathmandu Municipal Corporation (KMC) is to provide basic health care services to senior citizens above 70 years of age at their home itself.     

For this, the KMC is carrying out a survey the health condition of senior citizens from Sunday. Following the outcome of the survey, nursing staff will go from door-to-door along with health examination materials, medicines and other medical supplies.     

Priority is to be given to senior citizens who are financially weak and do not have immediate family members, who are physically disabled, cannot walk due to chronic diseases and cannot go to regular health institutions for health treatment.     

Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol said that since many of the senior citizens in Kathmandu have children abroad, a telemedicine system is being developed to inform their children abroad about the condition of their aged parents and help them live a healthy life.     

A five-day orientation has been provided to the nursing staff who will be going to carry out the survey.     

KMC Health Department Chief Deepak KC shared that the service will include medication and nutrition counseling, as well as conduct family meetings and dialogue programs to strengthen mental and social conditions.     

Similarly, counseling will be provided on physical exercise, mental health, and hygiene, and the data collected from the survey is expected to inform the formulation of budgets, plans, and programs for senior citizens.(RSS)