Dr Harsh Vardhan addresses 40th Anniversary of AGE CARE India
‘Most Eminent Senior Citizen’ award was conferred
Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare addressed the 40th anniversary of AGE-CARE India and the Elders Day celebrations at the India International Centre, in New Delhi. Prof R Guleria, Director, AIIMS and other senior dignitaries from the medical profession were also present on the occasion.
Dr Vardhan conferred the ‘Most Eminent Senior Citizen’ award to Prof (Dr) JS Guleria, Padma Shree Awardee and Senior Consultant, Medicine at Sita Ram Bhartia Institute & Professor Emeritus, National Science Academy and to Dr GP Seth, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine.
The Union Health Minister started his address by thanking the dignitaries present at the event and expressing his appreciation for Dr DR Karthikeyan, President, AGE-CARE India for taking the initiative of honouring two stalwarts of the medical profession. He also expressed his admiration for the good work that AGE-CARE India has been doing for the elderly of the country.
Dr Vardhan also remembered the contribution and sacrifices of healthcare workers during the pandemic. He mentioned the contribution of mothers who endured hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic and despite knowing the risks their sons and daughters in the medical profession faced, never asked them to refuse to treat COVID patients. He stated that “God is omnipresent and to prove that he is omnipresent, he created mothers”.
Detailing the success in the front of challenges posed by COVID 19, the Union Minister highlighted that as soon as the WHO was notified of the suspected case of pneumonia in China, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare swung into action and formed an expert group within 48 hours. He also informed the audience that more than a million people are tested on a regular basis and from one single laboratory to test positivity at the initial stage of the pandemic, India now has more than 2000 labs across the country today.
The Minister also recalled that India exported hydroxychloroquine to more than 150 countries at the peak of the pandemic. He also highlighted that while India has administered 7.5 crore doses in India, more than 6.5 crore doses have also been sent to other countries.
On the commitment of the present government towards the healthcare of the elderly, the Union Minister pointed out, “The elderly and people with co-morbidities are being given the priority for inoculation. The government is committed towards the welfare of all people and especially the elderly of the country.”
He also informed that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare already has a programme dedicated to addressing the various health-related problems of the elderly called the ‘National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly’ (NPHCE).
Dr Harsh Vardhan ended his address by thanking AGE-CARE India and other dignitaries for their contribution to healthcare in India and assured them of his government’s steadfast support in their activities.
PIB
