Strive for 100% of the elderly to have health insurance cards by 2025

Khám sức khỏe miễn phí cho NCT TP Đà Nẵng

Free health check for the elderly in Da Nang city

Up to now, the rate of the elderly being granted health insurance cards is at 97.8%. Medical examination and treatment facilities are increasingly meeting the health care needs of the elderly. Da Nang Hospital and Rehabilitation Hospital, Ngu Hanh Son District Medical Center have Geriatric Departments. There are 9 specialized hospitals (Oncology, Eye, Lung, Mental Health, Traditional Medicine...) with separate examination tables to ensure meeting the examination and treatment needs of the elderly. Hai Chau District Medical Center established a Geriatric Department, other Medical Centers have arranged Examination Departments, separate examination tables and inpatient treatment for the elderly.

According to a report from the City Elderly Association, last year, 571,000 elderly people received health check-ups and treatment, reaching over 70% of the elderly. The City Elderly Association and districts coordinated with the health sector and relevant agencies to organize conferences to deploy the Elderly Health Care Program in the locality; organized dozens of training courses to provide knowledge, communication skills, and elderly health care consultation for 150 medical staff and 560 members of community-based elderly care clubs. Developed plans and produced tens of thousands of leaflets promoting elderly health care at the grassroots level. Coordinated hanging of banners, streamers, and parade floats on main roads on occasions of International Elderly Day, Vietnam Population Day, Action Month for Vietnamese Elderly People, and National Action Month on Population, etc.

Treatment for the elderly in Da Nang city

At the grassroots level, all 56 commune and ward health stations organized periodic health check-ups for 61,877 elderly people, and established health management records for 77,461 elderly people. Training and guidance for 5,500 elderly people and family members on self-care skills and elderly health care were organized during the year with nearly 3,300 elderly people participating. 56 Elderly Health Care Clubs in the community organized 262 activities, thematic talks, and communication on elderly health care, attracting over 3,300 members to participate.

Mr. Pham Quy, Head of the Executive Board of the Da Nang City Elderly Association, said: Through clubs and medical examination and treatment activities, elderly people in difficult circumstances and with illnesses have access to medical services in many different forms. Elderly people with disabilities are screened, their disabilities detected and receive intervention and rehabilitation. Elderly people who are able to take care of themselves and recognize abnormal signs go to medical facilities and are given priority for medical examination and treatment. The Association also promotes the role of Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs (LTHTGN) and other types of clubs for the elderly with health care content to monitor, advise and support members. In all communes and wards, Elderly Health Care Clubs and volunteer teams are established to participate in elderly health care. Currently, the city is implementing socialization to build nursing facilities and preparing to establish a Daytime Elderly Health Care Center, creating more playgrounds for the elderly to practice, take care of, improve physical health, and improve their spiritual life.

Chăm sóc sức khỏe NCT hoàn cảnh khó khăn tại nhà

Health care for the elderly in difficult circumstances at home

According to Mr. Quy, there are still difficulties and problems in the care of the elderly that need to be resolved by the authorities. Some local authorities have not attached importance to the care of the elderly, while the number of elderly people is increasing due to the aging process of Vietnam's population. Training and education programs on the care of the elderly have not received due attention. Equipment, infrastructure, and operating costs are still limited, failing to meet the needs of providing health care services for the elderly.

The leaders of the City Elderly Association requested that authorities at all levels continue to support funding for propaganda and training on elderly health care for the Board of Directors of the Elderly Care Clubs, Community-Based Elderly Care Clubs, and population - health - child collaborators. Maintain the effective operation of the Elderly Care Clubs and Community-Based Elderly Health Care Clubs. The People's Committees and Elderly Associations at all levels need to support funding to maintain the operation and replicate the model of these clubs to the branches.

In particular, focus on communication and education to change people's behavior, provide knowledge and skills for self-care, improve health for the elderly and families with elderly people. Build facilities to establish a Geriatric Clinic at the Center for Counseling and Providing Population - Family Planning Services (under the City's Department of Population - Family Planning).

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