Helpage India and Malayala Manorama together organized a workshop on geriatrics. Shri.Dr KM Mathew presided over the function. Justice K.T.Thomas inaugurated. Aliamma Thampi State Director of Helpage India was the chief coordinator. Dr Jothydev spoke on �Health in Old Age�. This programme was conducted as part of the elderly week celebration.

One question and answer

Qn: I come from Europe and is traveling around to learn more about the health in Kerala. In your slide you mentioned about elderly waiting for long hours in the hospital and the necessity to train more nurses for specialised geriatric care. But, I notice that all the trained nurses in Kerala go abroad. How can you prevent this?

Ans: Jothydev: Well. Though your stay has been only for a short duration you are absolutely right. Nurses and doctors go abroad not just to make money. I feel it is mainly because of lack of job satisfaction. Iimprovements in work environment, emergence of state of the art private institutions, decent salary etc. will enable experts in health care stay back.