An exclusive free clinic for senior citizens is getting ready in Madurai. Taking advice from the International Federation of Ageing — Voluntary Global Forum for Elders Rights — a 42-year-old tailoring teacher in Madurai, B. Muralidharan, and his wife Sumathi, 37, are engaged in building this clinic with donations from their neighbours and friends.
The couple runs an oldage home at Nagamalai Pudhukottai neighbourhood with 35 inmates, three of them above 95. “We have decided to arrange a vehicle, which would pick up sick elders in the neighbourhood to the clinic for free,” said the couple.
Explaining the project Muralidharan said, “Many elders need doorstep treatment. It’s tough for some of them to go to hospitals using public transport.
This clinic would provide them the access to healthcare with free transportation.” He mentioned that loneliness is the major ‘health’ problem faced by many elders and this clinic would double up as a meeting place for them.
Ms Sumathi said that two doctors who heard about their initiative have agreed to work in the clinic for free. “So far we have spent `7 lakh for the construction. We need Rs 15 lakh to complete this clinic.
To start with, basic health check-up and counselling for 50 elders will be provided everyday,” she said. She said the hospital premises would be elderly friendly with textured flooring, hand rails and an airy environment. “We have planted saplings to make our clinic green,” she added.
Tamil Nadu senior citizens association general secretary S.M. Chellaswamy, 75, said that the government should come forward to open similar clinics in remote places.
“Though Muralidharan and Sumathi have started this clinic in a small way, this model will get popular soon,” he said.
To know more about the clinic, contact: 9442089306