Uttara Kannada completes intensive survey of elderly

• Survey shows 1,37,717 elderly people in Uttara Kannada district.
• 6569 had glucose level more than 140mg/dl and 131 with SPO2 less than 92 percent.

Karwar, Sep 13: As it is an agreed fact that older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions are more prone to COVID, Uttara Kannada administration conducted a special survey to keep a tab on the elderly persons in the district.

The majority of those who died are elderly persons and the government is serious about keeping a tab on their health condition. Based on the directions from the Chief Secretary of the state, the Uttara Kannada district administration conducted a special survey through Aasha and Anganwadi workers from September 4 to 11 in all the 12 Taluks of the district.

“The purpose of the survey was to find the vulnerability in elderly people and to reduce the future deaths among them due to COVID-19,” Deputy Commissioner Dr. Harish Kumar K told The Canara Post.

In the door to door survey, the health workers used the Pulse oximeter to know oxygen saturation and glucometer to know Diabetic status. We covered all the houses and found 1,37,717 elderly people in Uttara Kannada district.

The health workers checked the oxygen saturation and glucose test and found that 6569 had glucose level more than 140mg/dl and 131 with SPO2 less than 92 percent.

All these patients were referred to the respective PHCs for further investigation and treatment.

This survey will help the district administration as it now has a clear picture of the elderly people whom it needs to concentrate on. The Aasha workers have visited every house and they now have a clear idea of whom to monitor regularly.

“Our COVID warriors will now keep a tab on these elderly people,” he added.