Five-day Outreach programme on Primary Health Care for Senior Citizens concludes at JU

JAMMU, March 19- The Five-day outreach programme on Primary Health Care for Senior Citizens for the youth which had begun with an aim to create awareness and educate youth on the importance of primary healthcare for the elderly, provide useful information on available healthcare services and resources, and also to promote healthy ageing practices, culminated today at the University of Jammu.

The programme was organized by the National Institute of Social Defence, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in collaboration with ANUGRAHA Regional Resource Centre and Training Centre on Ageing and Department of Home Science, JU. The outreach programme was attended by research scholars and students of the Department of Home Science, JU.

Speaking in the valedictory session,  Dr.Aabha Choudhary, Chairperson of ANUGRAHA Regional resource and training centre on Ageing congratulated the Department of Home Science for successfully organizing the outreach programme on a topic that holds particular relevance in today’s world. She also enlightened the participants that master trainees will be selected after this programme thus giving an opportunity to the youth to be engaged in the empowerment of the senior citizens. She took the feedback of the participants and also sought their views on how they could contribute to the senior citizens after attending this programme. She quoted several experiences where she rescued senior citizens from physical abuse by their own family members. She stressed that keeping silent in such situations is not the solution but taking appropriate steps by the neighbourhood families and youth in rescuing the elderly who are at risk of abuse. Societal pressure on such family members can be a major preventive measure in tackling the problem.  

Earlier Prof. Samridhi Arora, Head , Department of Home Science, JU, and also the coordinator of the programme presented a brief report and an overview of the lectures delivered during the programme. Some of the main themes covered included Physical Health of the elderly, Cognitive Functioning of the Aged, Bridging the Generation Gap, Successful Ageing, Medico-Legal Perspective to ageing, Nutritional Needs of the Elderly Population Ageing- A Reality Check, Status, policies and programmes, Osteoporosis and pain management, Geriatric care, Legal Perspective related to Medical Negligence of Senior Citizens.

A very distinguished group of healthcare professionals and experts shared their knowledge and expertise on primary healthcare for the elderly. Their presentations and insights were undoubtedly proven invaluable to all the participants. Some of the prominent speakers and resource persons include Prof.RajniDhingra, Prof Neeru Sharma, Prof. ShashiManhas, Prof. Samridhi Arora from the Department of Home Science, JU,  Dr.NirojiniBhat, Former Visiting faculty in Food & Nutrition, Dr.Rohit Bhatia, renowned Physiotherapist and Visiting Consultant, IIT, Jammu, Dr.Kamini Sharma, Neurologist, K.D Multispeciality Hospital, Jammu and Ms.Deepali Arora, Sr. Advocate, J & K High Court

Ms.Deepali Arora, Sr. Advocate in J&K High Court and also State Coordinator of the ANUGRAHA Regional resource and training centre for Ageing apprised the audience about the relevance of the programme in developing sensitivity towards senior citizens.

The programme was assisted by Dr.Charu Mohan, Sr. Scientist, Department of Home Science, JU.The valedictory session was attended by the staff members, scholars, students and ANUGRAHA team members.