HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, Oct 1: Along with the rest of the world, the Sivasagar District Senior Citizens Forum observed the International Day for Older Persons in Old Amolapatty Gohain Chuk Bornaamghar premises with a day-long programme. Krtik Chandra Dutta, president of the Sivasagar Senior Citizens’ Forum, hoisted the flag while Prof. Sonaram Baruah, former principal of Sivasagar Girls’ College, inaugurated the open session.
As the invited speaker, Dr Prasanta Dihingia, superintendent of AMC Dibrugarh, spoke in detail on the medical and mental problems common to elderly people. He said that elderly people aged 60 or above need regular health check-ups every six months to identify the areas of problems in their bodies and minds. He stated that there is a serious shortfall of senior medical officers in the state due to an increase in medical colleges. Dr Dihingia suggested valuable tips to maintain good health in the case of cell degeneration, shrinkage of veins and arteries, and subsequent increase in blood pressure. Dr Dihingia also said that the messages on the internet from some parties regarding systematic failures of body organs due to the use of medicines like Metformin Hydrochloride in diabetes are baseless. He also mentioned that it requires a combination of physical exercise, proper medicines, psychological support, and balanced food to maintain good health in advanced age. Dr Padun Dutta, former HoD of Mathematics in Sibsagar College, and Jamuna Borgohain, former vice principal of Sibsagar Girls’ College (in absentia), were felicitated at the meeting.