A medical specialist checks the blood pressure of an elderly cyclone survivor in the Ayeyarwady delta.

MORE assistance is needed for people over 55 who were affected by Cyclone Nargis, according to HelpAge International, the only INGO in the delta specialising in assistance for older people.

Out of the estimated 2.4 million affected by Nargis, more than 200,000 – almost 9 percent – were aged over 55, according to Mr Godfred Paul, HelpAge’s senior regional program manager. More work needs to be done to address their needs, he said.

“HelpAge International is urging all agencies and organisations involved in the relief effort to recognise older people’s needs in their response and involve them in developing long-term rehabilitation programs,” Mr Paul told The Myanmar Times.

“The ASEAN assessment report (PONJA) said little about the needs of vulnerable groups, including older people, yet this information is vital in informing an effective long-term response,” he added.

A detailed assessment conducted by HelpAge in three townships affected by the cyclone revealed that although relief work is ongoing, more than 90pc of older people say there has been no specific attention paid to their needs.

Targeting older people as a vulnerable group, and addressing the specific challenges they face, is vital, Mr Paul says. These challenges include difficulty in reaching aid distribution points, problems carrying relief goods and special medical and nutritional needs that often go unrecognised.

The study showed that prior to Cyclone Nargis, about 70pc of older people suffered from some sort of significant illness. This proportion increased to 98pc after the cyclone.

The main problems older people cited in order of priority were: Healthcare, food aid, shelter, home care, nutrition, economic security and psychological support.

HelpAge has allocated about $1 million in funding for post-Nargis projects, including emergency relief assistance, health care, shelter, mainstreaming ageing, publishing studies on situation of older peoples.

“Initially our program focused on distributing relief assistance and providing basic health care in selected communities,” he said, adding that the programs were then extended to include shelter repair and promoting the inclusion of the needs of older people in humanitarian programs.

“Although our recovery program is completed in delta region, our medical mobile team is still providing health assistance to older peoples in these regions,” he said.

“We are the only organisation that focuses on providing assistance to older people, out of all the international organisations working in the cyclone-affected area,” he said. “At this stage we have just a few staff so we are working in cooperation with the YMCA.”

As part of its recovery program, HelpAge International rebuilt more than 1400 homes for older people in Kyaiklatt, Pyapon and Dedaye townships.

The organisation is also working to provide food security and healthcare for older people, as well as raise awareness of the needs of older people and the potential they have to contribute to their households and communities.

In a few years, one out of five citizens in Myanmar will be over 60 years of age. This 20pc represents a huge resource of knowledge, experience and wisdom that can become a very useful tool in development, Mr Paul says.

“We believe that supporting older people is an invaluable investment of time and resources,” he said.

Older people can also be a valuable resource. With their experience, coping strategies and traditional skills they can play a significant role in helping communities recover. Their contribution should be recognised and supported, Mr Paul said.

HelpAge International and HelpAge Korea, in partnership with YMCA, have been working in Myanmar for four years to support a community-based home care program for poor older people.