more-in The city Corporation will launch a major project focussed on the well-being of senior citizens next month. The project titled ‘Arogya Vayomithram’ includes regular health check-ups and distribution of various equipment for the elderly across all the 100 wards of the Corporation. According to Health standing committee chairman K. Sreekumar, the project is one of the most important ones put forward by the standing committee in the budget for 2016-17. “There has not been a comprehensive project taking care of various aspects of the health of senior citizens, above the age of 60. This project was thus formulated with an aim to continually monitor the health of senior citizens in all wards and provide the Corporation’s help in remedial measures. We have an allocation of ?4 crore in the first year. But, we hope to increase the allocation in the coming years,” says Mr.Sreekumar. As part of the project, medical camps will be organised in all wards every three months, thus making it four check-ups for senior citizens a year. A medical team consisting of specialist doctors, including cardiologists and ophthalmologists, will be part of the camps. Based on the initial check-up, further treatment, including scanning, will be done at Government hospitals. Another component of the project will be the distribution of beds, walking sticks, spectacles, mosquito nets, water bags and other medical equipment for senior citizens. The civic body’s aim is to distribute these items to at least 100 individuals in every ward. In this, priority will be given to those from economically weak backgrounds, widows and widowers and those with none to look after them. “We have tied up with public sector companies for the project. The spectacles and lab tests, for instance, will be provided in association with HLL Lifecare Ltd. The beds are being made by Artisans Development Co-operative Ltd. The things to be distributed are all now almost ready. We hope to launch the project by next month,” says Mr. Sreekumar.

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