Community health check-ups - the 'key' to caring for the elderly.

Community health check-up activities have proven effective, helping the elderly access healthcare services more easily and contributing to reducing the burden of disease in the context of an aging population.

Hai Phong Lung Hospital is implementing a screening program for tuberculosis and other non-communicable diseases for people aged 50 and above.

Free health check-up at the facility.

At the free health check-up for the elderly in Ngo Quyen ward, conducted by doctors from Hai Phong University Medical Hospital, Ms. Pham Thi Hoan arrived very early. She shared that in recent years, due to her advanced age and declining health, receiving regular check-ups and care is of great importance to her.

“Because of our advanced age and the difficulty in traveling, we found it very practical when doctors from Hai Phong University Medical Center and Ngo Quyen Health Center came to our ward to provide health check-ups. Through this, elderly people can get disease screenings, better understand how to take care of themselves, gain more motivation to live happily and healthily, and have more confidence in the city's social welfare policies,” Ms. Hoan shared.

Sharing the same sentiment, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ly, a resident of Kinh Mon ward, over 70 years old, suffers from osteoarthritis, making it difficult for her to walk. When the Kinh Mon Health Center coordinated the free health check-up program in the area, Mrs. Ly arrived very early.

"I always try to participate in local health check-up programs. Being examined by doctors and receiving guidance on disease prevention makes me feel much more at ease," said Mrs. Ly.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health , over 70% of elderly people suffer from an average of three or more chronic diseases such as dementia, vulnerability syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and musculoskeletal degeneration. In particular, eye diseases causing blindness and visual impairment account for a high percentage…

According to Ms. Tran Thi Huan, Head of the Population, Communication and Health Education Department (Kinh Mon Health Center), the free health check-up programs in recent times have had a positive effect on the community, reducing the burden of health concerns for the elderly. Through examinations, doctors can assess the status of chronic diseases and detect many potential illnesses in those who have never been checked before. Based on that, the medical team provides specific advice on nutrition, medication use, and rest. For those with chronic diseases, doctors guide them on proper monitoring and medication use and recommend regular follow-up visits, helping the elderly prevent and treat diseases promptly, contributing to improved health.

Access to basic healthcare services

Gia Loc Health Center provides health check-ups for the elderly in the community.

In the context of a rapidly aging population, providing regular healthcare for the elderly has become a crucial task for the health sector and all levels of government. With the goal of ensuring that all elderly people have access to basic healthcare services, the Department of Health issued a plan for regular healthcare for the elderly at the beginning of the year. Those aged 60 and above are eligible to participate, with priority given to those eligible for social welfare programs, poor and near-poor households, lonely individuals, and those aged 80 and above.

The examination points are fully equipped with specialized departments and offer many on-site paraclinical tests such as blood tests, ultrasound, electrocardiogram, capillary blood glucose tests, etc., helping to improve the quality of diagnosis. After each examination, a health record is created for each elderly person, who is monitored regularly for long-term management.

However, the implementation process has faced many difficulties so far. This is due to a shortage of medical personnel when organizing large-scale examinations. In addition, funding is limited, currently only meeting about 7% of the demand for regular health check-ups for the elderly, while the number of people in this group is increasing. Furthermore, many elderly people do not have the habit of regular health check-ups, making it difficult to manage chronic diseases and detect risk factors early.

In light of this situation, Dr. Vu Duc Binh, Deputy Head of the City's Population and Children Department, emphasized that in the coming time, it is necessary to strengthen the leadership and guidance role of local Party committees and authorities in caring for the health of the elderly; promote communication about the benefits of regular health check-ups; and disseminate knowledge on nutrition and prevention of common diseases for the elderly and their caregivers. At the same time, the city and localities need to supplement funding, invest in more medical equipment for the grassroots level, expand the scope of those eligible for check-ups, and enhance paraclinical services to improve the effectiveness of screening for non-communicable diseases.

Medical staff at Hai Phong University Medical Hospital conduct health checkups for elderly patients.

With the coordinated efforts of all levels and sectors, and the active participation of the community, the program for regular health check-ups for the elderly is expected to continue to yield practical results, contributing to improving the quality of life and building a sustainable healthcare system in the context of an aging population.

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Following the merger, Hai Phong currently has approximately 852,000 elderly people, accounting for 20.34% of the population. Of these, over 74% receive health counseling and management, medical examinations and treatment, and care at home and in the community; nearly 65% ​​receive regular health check-ups (at least once a year); nearly 97% have health insurance cards; and 56% have health records.

NGOC THANH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/kham-suc-khoe-cong-dong-chia-khoa-cham-care-nguoi-cao-tuoi-529676.html