Varanasi: To review the status of the upcoming National Centre of Ageing (NCA) ahead of its inauguration, chief minister Yogi Adityanath visited Banaras Hindu University on Saturday. The National Centre of Ageing is being developed under the National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.Prof Anup Singh, nodal officer of the National Centre of Ageing, briefed the CM about the project and explained the status of each floor. He informed that the initial phase of operationalisation would commence with 52 beds located on the ground and first floors. The CM inspected the facility and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the work. He emphasized that the remaining finishing work should be completed at the earliest.Prof Singh also apprised the Chief Minister of the manpower position and the status of equipment and furniture. KC Verma, chief engineer, HITES, informed that the centre is expected to be ready by June 30.BHU vice-chancellor Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi was also present.The National Centre of Ageing is a standalone multidisciplinary facility dedicated to comprehensive healthcare for older persons and will also serve as a centre for teaching and training in various specialties. Departments including Geriatric Medicine, Anaesthesia, Radiology, Nephrology and Surgery will provide services at the centre.Besides 120 general ward beds, the facility will have 38 critical care beds, a day-care unit, dialysis unit, pre- and post-operative rooms, a physiotherapy unit, sleep laboratory, private rooms, radiodiagnostic facilities and multispecialty OPD services, enabling comprehensive care for elderly patients under one roof.During the interaction, Prof Singh requested the CM to promote the establishment of Geriatric Medicine departments in other medical colleges across Uttar Pradesh in addition to BHU. The Chief Minister responded positively to the suggestion and appreciated the importance of strengthening elderly healthcare services in the state.
