Page 69 - Kerala calling OCTOBER 2020

quarantine strategy worked wonders.
By early September, the incidence
of Covid among the elderly was not
as high as it would have been, if the
strategy had not been followed. The
safety of around 20,000 inmates in
619 old - age homes across the state
was ensured.

When our elderly dropped their
heads in gloom, the Government,
through its various departments,
became a shoulder to lean on. To
quote Radha(name changed to
conceal identity), a lawyer when her
to the ‘system’. He had joined the club real hard. 70 – year - old father tested positive
of happy elders that included octa -” The attitude of our Government
and nonagenarians who recovered As the ‘developed’ West was and the health system towards the
from Covid19 in Kerala. The case throwing up its hands and choosing elderly is very comforting. They do
of Asma Beevi,105, the oldest yet is the younger Covid patient not trivialize my father’s illness or
the living proof of the success of the over an elderly ‘afflicted one’ to brush it aside as being not worth it!”
system. ventilate, Kerala was planning and In the time of Covid, Kerala became
implementing ways to not bring its the safest haven for the elderly. The
Latheef is one among Kerala’s much elderly to that plight. same will continue, as long as we do
valued 70 lakh who are being cared not throw the caution to the wind.
for, thought about and treated with Not much was known to many about
a purpose, right from the beginning the calls that are being made on a
of the pandemic. In the words of Dr. daily basis from January 2020. From Kerala had in fact
Alwin Antony, Assisstant Professor the Control rooms and Peripheral foreseen that it had to
in Community Medicine, GMC institutions to vulnerable groups be a step ahead of the
Kalamassery ,Kochi -“We have like- the quarantined elderly, the rest in taking measures
always given priority to our senior bed-ridden elderly or the elderly to prevent the pandemic
citizens when it comes to hospital with psychological issues – in order hitting the elderly
admissions. With the CFLTCs to dispel their many worries and
around, we can now prioritize queries.
further, meaning, we end up saving
the best for them.” As they all were first locked down
and then reverse quarantined, the In the times of Covid,
In the times of Covid, the social elderly gloomily watched their sons Kerala became the safest
restrain advised to our elderly and daughters go to work. The haven for the elderly.
included cessation of visits to the other side to this gloom though,
Health Centre for their aches, pains is reflected in the words of Uma, a
and regular medications. It was 70 – year - old retired banker ”In the
fine as they knew that the friendly initial days, though I had felt a little
‘ASHA’ would get the medicines depressed, I am glad, I never dared When our elderly
home for them. With around 15% to venture out because I believe that dropped their heads in
of the State’s population being senior these norms have kept me safe to gloom, the Government,
citizens, Kerala had in fact foreseen date”. through its various
that it had to be a step ahead of the departments, became a
rest in taking measures to prevent As time progressed, it became
the pandemic hitting the elderly, evident that Kerala’s reverse shoulder to lean on
prd.kerala.gov.in/publication/keralacalling/OCTOBER 2020 69 KERALA CALLING