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Old people facing snags


Published : 06 Apr 2020 09:24 PM | Updated : 29 Aug 2020 07:34 PM

Due to lockdown across the country senior citizens are facing difficulty as they are not able to go out for any kind of physical exercise.
Health condition of many elderly people with various complications is getting worse as they are now confined within the four walls.

Most of them are staying home passing time by reading newspapers, watching television and taking medicine.

A 68 year old retired employee from Dhanmondi, Abul Mansur Ahmed wakes up every morning but cannot go out for his daily walk with his wife as lockdown is imposed in the capital.

Talking to Bangladesh Post over the phone he expressed his dissatisfaction, “Government should consider the condition of the older people. How can we live inside the home for such a long time? I may die of boredom.”

“Two of my sons live in New York (USA) and Windsor (Canada). Every morning I talk to them, feed my pet dog and chat with my wife. I can’t say how dull life has become as we are unable to go out for this virus fear.”

Nazrul Islam, another elderly person who is a resident of Azimpur area, said, “I know older people are at higher risk of getting infected with coronavirus. 

My elder son told me not to go out. Earlier, I used to go outside for physical exercise and prayer. Now I take my regular medicine. Talk to relatives over the phone and watch television. It’s so monotonous at home as I can’t go out for walking. I hope it will end soon,” he added.

The number of senior citizens is steadily increasing. The infrastructure and manpower needed for their essential services and treatment is still scarce.

According to an estimation the total number of elderly people will reach about 4 crore in 2050.
NGO worker Belayet Hossain said, “There are few NGO’s working for their rights, we run one of them. It’s a crucial time when world has changed abruptly. Aged people must be taken care of by their close relatives.

I would suggest them not to worry about their age, rather they should walk if they can inside the room or watch nature from a window”, he added.

Clinical Psychologist Anisur Rahman urged the authority to think about the older people when formulating a policy.
“As lockdown is extended by the government obviously it will affect them and their health. Please do take special care of older people and children, as there is no alternative. The world should not forget that they are the most vulnerable group,” he added.

On Monday, three (3) more people died of coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, DGHS said today. This is the highest number of deaths in a day so far in the country. The death toll now stands at 12.

Thirty-five people have tested positive for COVID-19 in last 24 hours, Prof Abul Kalam Azad, director-general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said during a briefing. With this, the total number of infected cases has reached 123.