Providing healthcare to Older People in Thar Desert, India

India is home to over 70 million older people living in the age-group of above 60. The Thar Desert in the state of Rajasthan is one of the most backward and impoverished regions of the country. Communities living in Thar Desert suffer with chronic droughts and severe water-scarcity. Older People live in pathetic conditions in the Thar. They have very little financial security, are isolated and are undernourished and vulnerable to a number of health problems. Nutritional disorders, chronic diseases, mental health problems, immobility and infections among older people are highly prevalent. Founded in 1983, GRAVIS is working on community empowerment in Thar Desert with a special focus on vulnerable groups including older people, women and children. To improve the health status of older people, GRAVIS has taken up a number of initiatives. It organizes community-based health education sessions focusing on health needs of older people and is involved in advocacy on older people's health issues on state, national, regional and global levels. CHWs are integral part of GRAVIS' healthcare delivery network. Special focus is laid on geriatric health in trainings and orientation of CHWs. In future, it is planned to develop specialized cadre of CHWs working on older people's health. GRAVIS has also taken up initiative of forming Older People's Associations (OPAs) and Mutual Health Funds. Further, the organization runs a fully-equipped hospital to deliver diagnostic and curative services. The idea is to integrate health promotion, health education and medical services to improve the health conditions of older people.