Faced with the reality of population aging, Hau Giang is making efforts to implement solutions to adapt effectively in the coming period. In particular, healthcare for the elderly is a necessary solution that the province is focusing on implementing immediately.
Regular health check-ups help the elderly screen and detect diseases early.
The number of elderly people accounts for 16.89%
Hau Giang has a golden population structure, but is also entering the "Aging population" phase. In recent times, the proportion of elderly people in the province has been constantly increasing. If in 2017, the number of elderly people accounted for 13.03% of the population, by the end of June 2023, this figure was 16.89%, equivalent to 128,216 people. Of which, there are 111,706 people from 60 to 79 years old, accounting for 14.72% and 16,510 people from 80 years old and above, accounting for 2.17% of the province's population.
As a developing province, still facing many difficulties, "Population aging" affects human resources to focus on socio-economic development, creating pressure on the health care system and social security system. It is worrying that in recent years, although the average life expectancy of people has increased, the number of healthy years is still low. Most elderly people have at least one chronic disease. Therefore, taking care of the health of the elderly, so that the elderly can live happily and healthily, is extremely necessary in the current period.
At the age of 86, Mr. Tran Van Bay, in Hamlet 5, Vinh Vien Town, Long My District, still looks quite strong and alert. However, few people know that he is suffering from many diseases, such as high blood pressure and joint pain. Every month, he goes to Long My District Medical Center for a check-up and to get medicine. However, when invited to check the health of the town's elderly, Mr. Bay still asked his son to take him to the examination point early. "I find it very convenient to get a check-up locally. Coming here, I also get my blood pressure measured, blood sugar tested, ultrasound, and electrocardiogram measured. For the elderly to be taken care of like that, I feel very precious and very satisfied," Mr. Bay shared.
Identifying elderly health care as an important indicator to improve population quality, in the Communication Campaign to promote having 2 children combined with providing Reproductive Health Care - Family Planning and Improving the Quality of the Provincial Population in 2023, the Provincial Steering Committee for Population and Development set a target of over 93% of people aged 60 and over in the province to be examined, treated and managed for their health; 100% of elderly people from poor, near-poor, single, and homeless households will have regular health check-ups at least twice a year, be provided with necessary paraclinical services and be treated for related diseases.
Target 93% of elderly people must receive annual health care
To ensure the quality of health check-ups for the elderly, the campaign noted: The establishment of health check-up teams for the elderly needs to be equipped with additional ultrasound machines, electrocardiogram machines, and rapid blood sugar tests to serve the examination and disease screening of the elderly. For the elderly who are unable to go to the examination point, the locality will organize teams to go to their homes for examination. Thereby, creating conditions for most of the elderly in the province to receive health care during this period.
In implementing health check-ups for the elderly, in addition to the key role of the health sector, there is also the attention and direction of local Party committees and authorities, the coordination and support of departments, branches, organizations and the whole society. Mr. Huynh Dinh Cuong, Director of Long My District Medical Center, said: "In parallel with the clinical examination for the elderly, we also organize the distribution of medicine to people. The source of medicine is mobilized by us from social donors, and some basic medicines meet the needs of the people."
However, the primary goal of health check-ups for the elderly is to screen and detect diseases in order to advise and suggest further treatment directions for them. On the part of the local health sector, it is also necessary to grasp and manage the health status of the elderly in the area to provide more appropriate initial care and attention. Contributing to preventing the risk of the disease progressing to a severe stage, causing difficulties in treatment. Therefore, health check-ups for the elderly have been and are being actively implemented throughout the province.
According to Mr. Huynh Thai Ngoc, Deputy Head of the Provincial Department of Population and Family Planning: “For the current health check-up for the elderly, localities are preparing very well, from logistics to invitations to examination locations. People have also gradually supported this work of the health sector, of the population and development steering committees at all levels. In the coming time, we will continue to propagate and mobilize people to participate in health check-ups. For the sector, we will direct affiliated units to develop a plan to continue examination and screening after this peak to achieve the set goal of 93% of the elderly receiving health care every year”.
Article and photos: DANG THU
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