Several elderly people from rural areas were given knee braces at a recent camp, to help them cope with what is one of the most troubling health issues during old age.
The camp, organised by the NGO HelpAge India (HI) working for the cause of the elderly, provided the prosthetics free of cost to 110 beneficiaries.
According to the NGO, knee pain is one of the major health problems faced by the elderly people and the condition often renders them immobile and causes low self-esteem.
As a preliminary measure, a screening camp was held in Kuruvinatham, Parikkalpattu, Bahour, Kirumampakkam, Kudieruppupalayam and Seliyamedu villages.
600 people screened
Around 600 elders were screened by orthopaedics over two days. Welfare Minister M. Kandassamy and N. Dhanavelu, MLA, supervised the activities at Kirumampakkam and Bahour respectively.
During the camp, 110 elderly people were identified and prescribed to go for x-rays to get a diagnosis of their acute knee pain. The x-rays were taken in association with PIMS hospital and the beneficiaries were asked to come for prosthetic knee braces camp held over two days at Tamaraikulam Elders Village, HelpAge India-Cuddalore.
Dr. Naik, orthopaedician, led a team to provide customised knee braces.
The camps were held by HelpAge India under GAMAN Project.
The HSBC Bank sponsored the knee braces under a CSR initiative, said Ramalingam, Deputy Director-HelpAge India, Puducherry.
Since 2010, HelpAge India has been running an urban age care centre at No. 13, Rue Aurobindo.
The features include a helpline (1253), physiotherapy unit and computer literacy programmes.
Recently, the NGO extended its services to rural areas and created Self Help Groups for the elderly (ESHG) in Bahour and Nettapakkam Communes.
More than 2,500 senior citizens are linked on the ESHG platform which is a guidance forum on social security aspects, health problems, and their rights and entitlements.
NGO HelpAge India’s initiative helps 110 senior citizens get prosthetic knee braces free of cost
