Everyone should desist from meeting up with family and friends, especially during Ramadan and the Eid period, in order to protect the elderly, as they are more susceptible to contract Covid-19 infection, urged Dr Hanadi al-Hamad, national lead for Healthy Ageing in Qatar.
At a press conference on Thursday, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) official, who is also the medical director of Rumailah Hospital and Qatar Rehabilitation Institute, elaborated on the efforts to protect the elderly during the pandemic.
“Doctors are providing remote advice to the elderly, via video and telephone systems, a procedure that enables elderly patients to speak to their doctors in comfort and safety from their homes,” she said.
A team from the Geriatric and Long-Term Care Department contacted people aged 60 and above over last week to provide health advice and tips on how to stay safe during the Covid-19 outbreak. Safety instructions are also sent via SMS to them as well as those looking after them.
Dr al-Hamad pointed to the establishment of a day care unit for the elderly in Rumaila Hospital to treat non-life-threatening situations or emergency needs, in an effort to reduce the risk of exacerbation of a simple condition or health problem that a member of this segment may be exposed to.
She urged the elderly and their families to participate in the efforts to maintain their safety by following strict precautions to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection.
Responding to a question about the nature of the efforts made by the healthcare sector to prevent the elderly from going to pharmacies in hospitals to get their regular medicines, Dr al-Hamad said that Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation are working in co-operation with Qatar Post to deliver medicines to all age groups, especially the elderly category.
This is done by contacting the hotline or the physician through the health care establishment phone number and the medicine allocated to the patients are delivered to their home through Qatar Post.
“The service ensures that the elderly need not go out of their homes to get their medicines and thereby their contacts with others,” she added. 
Related Story