Pics: Meryick D'silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
With Inputs from Media Release

Mangaluru, Sep 5: Sahaaya in association with CSI Senior Citizens’ Fellowship of CSI Shanti, CSI Kanthi, CSI Susanthi and CSI Hebich Memorial churches on Saturday Septmeber 5 organised a one day camp on 'The health and security of seniors' at Bishop Jathanna Auditorium KACES Campus, Balmatta. More than 130 seniors from various CSI churches participated in this camp.

The programme began with a prayer led by Rev Andrew John, presbyter, CSI Hebich Memorial Church. Rev Sandeep Theophil, public relations officer, KACES and the convener of the event, welcomed the gathering.

Bishop C L Furtado, retired bishop CSI-KSD, inaugurated the camp along with bishop Sudarshana Devadar, resident bishop, United Methodist Church New England Conference, USA by lighting the lamp. Premdas Maben, S M Airan, Margaret Amanna and H W Anchan, presidents of CSI senior citizens fellowship were also present.

Bishop Furtado in his inaugural address called upon the gathering to organise more of such programme which would nurture fellowship and could build a strong network among seniors. He said that the church operating at the local level should make use of this opportunity and actively take part in such events. He also congratulated the organizers on conducting this camp.

In the first session bishop Sudarshan delivered a spiritual talk on the theme 'Living the Lord's Prayer'.

The second session was on basic fitness for elders which was led by Joe Gonsalves, a nonagenarian. He spoke to the group about the vital importance of basic fitness in life, especially as one enters old age. He drew the attention of the group to the fact that he was offering suggestions and demonstrations not as an expert but as someone who follows these practices. Starting with some basic breathing techniques and poses, Gonsalves went on to demonstrate more specific poses and exercises that help to relieve common ailments such as back pain, neck pain, and vertigo. Having suffered from these ailments himself, Gonsalves told the group that he learned about these fitness exercises when he was researching practical approaches to treat these common ailments. He is a living testimony to the fact that basic fitness exercises work. At the age of 94, he walks without a stick, drives everywhere in India and in the US.

The third session was led by Peter Oswald Rodrigues, joint secretary of the Mangalore Senior Citizens Association. He spoke on the various welfare schemes for senior citizens by the central and the state governments. He further spoke on the Senior Citizens Act 2007, income tax and travel concessions, health insurance and other schemes, nomination and making of the will. He also spoke on the need and importance of donation of organs, especially eye. Later various queries regarding all these were also answered by Peter Rodrigues.

The final session was led by Jerradin D'Souza, founder of Mangalore Alzheimer's Association. He spoke on the topic 'Importance to link society and the medical profession'. He emphasized on the need to create a network between socio-medical care. He also spoke on the role of the society in care giving and creating an understanding of the intricacies of the challenges thrown by dementia, which needs understanding from immediate family and care givers. Further he said, "Since there is no cure, the medical profession has its limitations and involving, training and guiding families becomes paramount."

Rev S D Aiman delivered the vote of thanks and Rev Thomas Chindwal compered the programme.