Senior citizens felicitated with shawls and garlands on International Day of Older Persons; walking sticks, hearing aids and wheelchairs provided to those in need.
MCB, October 2026: International Day of Older Persons was observed on Thursday during a two-day mega health camp being organised at Mangal Bhavan in Podi Chirimiri. At a programme chaired by Mayor Ramnaresh Rai, elderly citizens were felicitated with shawls and garlands, while walking sticks were distributed among senior citizens in need.
Chairperson Santosh Singh, elected representatives and officials and employees of the Health Department were present at the programme.
The mega health camp is being organised under the guidance of Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Avinash Khare, with the support of District Programme Manager Shishir Jaiswal and under the leadership of Khadgawan Block Medical Officer Dr Manish Pratap Singh. The programmes for International Day of Older Persons were organised in coordination with District Nodal Officer Dr Namrata Chakraborty, with support from NPHCE Assistant Nodal Officer Vicky Toppo and Social Welfare Department official Anjana Beck.
Health Check-ups, Consultations and Assistive Devices Under One Roof
The two-day camp, which began on September 30, is being conducted jointly by the Health and Social Welfare departments. Citizens are being provided health check-ups, medical consultations and assistive devices according to their needs.
Based on eligibility and medical assessments, beneficiaries are being provided hearing aids, walking sticks, wheelchairs and other assistive devices.
So far, around 100 hearing aids and 150 walking sticks have been distributed at the camp. More than 450 people have also undergone eye examinations. Glasses will be distributed to eligible beneficiaries based on the examination results and their requirements.
The initiative aims to make mobility, communication and daily activities easier for people requiring assistance.
Focus on Dignity and Care of Senior Citizens
Addressing the programme, Mayor Ramnaresh Rai said respecting senior citizens and remaining sensitive to their needs was a collective responsibility of society. He appealed to families and communities to play an active role in caring for elderly people.
He appreciated the joint efforts of the Health and Social Welfare departments in providing health services and assistive devices at a single location.
Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Avinash Khare said the camp was assessing people’s health concerns and their requirements for assistive devices through medical examinations. Along with consultations, arrangements are also being made for further treatment and referrals wherever required.
Promoting Healthy Ageing Through NPHCE
District Nodal Officer Dr Namrata Chakraborty explained the significance of the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) and International Day of Older Persons.
She spoke on the theme “Ageing with Dignity: Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons”, explaining that the programme aims to provide accessible, quality and dedicated healthcare services to citizens aged 60 years and above while promoting healthy and active ageing.
Social Welfare Department official Anjana Beck explained the arrangements related to old-age homes and the process of providing assistive devices to needy elderly persons and eligible beneficiaries.
The programme was attended by Dr Swapnil Tiwari, Hospital Superintendent; Dr Jamuna Prasad Arya, Superintendent, Mental Hospital; Rajkumar Rajwade, CPM, Chirimiri; Avnish Pandey, Nodal Officer, Ayushman Arogya Mandir; and BETOs Sushma Pandey and Kiran Pandey, among others.
By combining senior citizens’ felicitation with health screening and distribution of assistive devices, the programme focused on promoting the health, dignity and self-reliance of elderly people. The joint participation of the Health and Social Welfare departments ensured that needy citizens received examination, consultation and essential assistance at one location.
