ANNUAL REPORT

2015 - 2016

SH

IEL

D

FO

UN

DA

TIO

N

About SHIELD Foundation ………………………………………………….… 01

From Founder’s Desk …………………….………………………………….… 02

SHIELD’S Organogram ……………………………………………….…….… 04

Our Supporters ……………………………………………………………….… 05

Our Trustees ………………………………………………………………….… 06

Activities, Implementation and Achievements

Our Services …………………………………………………….…….… 08

Regular Activities and Events …………………………………….….… 09

Highlights of Activities and Events ……………………………….….… 12

Statistics of ‘Eye-Care’ Services ………………………….………..….. 14

Skill development Project …………....……………………………….… 15

Our Impact ………………………………….………………………….… 19

Development of Comprehensive Health Services Project………………..… 20

Join us …………………………………..…………………………………….… 29

CONTENTS

Shield Foundation represents "Society for Health, Innovation, Education,

and Liaisons Development." Centered in Dharavi (Asia's largest slum) in

Mumbai, India, the Shield Foundation is focused on developing and

delivering educational, medical, recreational, vocational and nutritional

services to disadvantaged populations. Key programs include SHIELD's

vocational training program for unemployed women to learn respite care

giving for home-bound senior citizens who otherwise do not have access to

adequate homecare; skills training for tailoring and beautician work for young

women in the community; case work for academic, vocational, pre-marital

and domestic violence cases; English-speaking and computer courses; and

health check-up events.

Shield Foundation was created in 2009 by Swati Ingole. During her 10

years of experience as a qualified social worker (MSW), she encountered

high rates of neglected and abused elderly living without moral or financial

support, and decided to create the Foundation to help these and other

underserved individuals. Since its origin, Shield has now grown to include a

small but powerful team of five full time staff members (three

paraprofessional and one office assistant in addition to the founder), with

additional support from 25 nursing student volunteers and social work

students from various local universities. In 2011, Shield Foundation was

honored to become an investee of UnLtd India, a social enterprise incubator.

ABOUT SHIELD

MISSION AND VISION

01

Mission:

‘To facilitate good mental and physical health and to foster equal growth

opportunities for everyone in the society’

Vision:

‘To make the senior citizens of Mumbai and Nagpur self-sufficient and sensitize

society as a whole on issues faced by them’

Dear friends,

The year was full of excitement and happiness. This year a dream project

with a cause for betterment of elderly was launched. The organization got

empanelled with MCED for skill development project and three batches of

skill development project were successfully launched.

Community outreach is being done constantly for senior citizens and skill

development projects. The team of 5 paraprofessionals have put in efforts to

reach out to maximum number of people in the community. These

paraprofessionals have got a lot of recognition and appreciation from the

community as well. One of our Paraprofessionals has been felicitated by

community organisation for her dedicated work for the social cause. They

have identified many cases of elderly abuse, elderly requiring medical, legal,

nutritional assistance and recreation. With their efforts, we could reach out

to more than 2000 people. Our volunteers from Nursing School of LTMGH

also helped us in creating awareness among people on various issues

concerning senior citizens. The clusters are identified in various localities in

Dharavi with the identified cases of elders with various ailments.

We have been regularly providing medical services for the elderly. Every

Tuesday and Thursdays the free medical check-up facility is initiated. Since

the project is in collaboration with LTMGH (Sion Hospital), we are getting

Doctors’ assistance from the Dept. of Psychiatry, Dept. of Medicine, and

Dept. of Occupational Therapy. All the necessary equipment for the basic

health care are bought at our centre, so that the senior citizens need not rush

to Sion Hospital for their basic health care. In a month, approx. 350-400

patients visit our centre for medical aid. Some of them are regular

beneficiaries, suffering from diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and multiple

ailments related to elderly. There is free yoga class on Every Monday. On

every Friday, the occupational therapist attends patients identified with

orthopaedic problems. Every second Tuesday Eye Check-Up is being

organized. The elderly with Cataract problems are referred to K.B. Haji

Bacchu Ali Eye Hospital for free Cataract surgery. Free spectacles are given

to all poor and needy elderly.

FROM FOUNDER’S DESK

02

Various cases of elder abuse are identified during ‘community outreach’ and

they are provided counselling to resolve their conflicts. A volunteer senior

Lawyer provides legal support for the cases of elder abuse and for women in

distress. The ‘community outreach’ is being done regularly, mainly for skill

development project. As per the interests and the requirement of ladies, the

information about various courses is being disseminated to community. We

have made an effort to start computer courses and provided training at free

of cost at the request of local kids in our community as there is no computer

institute nearby in the locality with courses at concessional rates. This year

we have extended our free skill development services at Lower Parel too.

We have reached out to 1000 elderly in a year and 1000 other stake holders.

This progress is the result of team work. I would appreciate the efforts taken

by outreach team in mobilizing people. Without their support, we would not

have achieved this impact. From the bottom of heart, I would like to thank all

doctors from LTMGH Hospital, lawyers, volunteers and Management

committee, and all our supporters. Without their kind support, it would have

been difficult to achieve our goal to support the society.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Ranjeet Patil, Hon.

Minister of State for Home, Govt. of Maharashtra, who has shown interest in

our work and Inaugurated the project on health care of elderly of Dharavi and

encouraged us to continue this work.

03

Mrs. Swati Ingole

Founder Trustee & Managing Secretary

SHIELD Foundation

SHIELD’S ORGANOGRAM

04

SHIELD Foundation has been fortunate to have been associated with a

committed group of supporters, who have always offered their expertise and

help for our cause. Be they our partner networks, donors, other NGOs or

volunteers, we are thankful to them for their wholehearted involvement and

for being with us throughout our journey!

Our partners and supporters include:

OUR SUPPORTERS

05

Sai Group of HospitalsK.B.H.B. Charitable Hospital

Federation of Senior Citizens' Organizations of Maharashtra

All India Senior Citizens Confederation

UnLtd India iVolunteer

OUR TRUSTEES

06

Suman Morey

President

Dr. Daksha Pandit

Hon. Project Director

Swati Ingole

Founder Trustee &

Managing Secretary

Naju Padsha

Vice-President

She has passed B.A. and is a homemaker. She is

known for her strength and independence as an

individual. She provided motivation to the founder

for serving society, and has always stood behind

the team through any crisis situation. She has

served several needy people on a personal basis,

including individuals in need for cataract surgery. She is also helping the team in building the

organization’s base at Nagpur.

She has passed B.A. and has done a Diploma in

Economics. She retired as Branch Manager in

Central Bank of India. She was President of the

Lioness Club of Bandra (Red Rose) for 3 tenures

over the last 20 years. She has also served as

Secretary for Five Garden’s Senior Citizens

Association for the last 10 years. She was a

President of the F North Ward Senior Citizens

Association, an initiative of the Family Welfare

Organisation.

She currently serves as Professor & Head of

Department of PSM (Community Medicine) at

Terna Medical College & Terna Hospital. Dr.

Pandit’s current responsibilities include offering

comprehensive health services like promotive,

preventive, curative at Dharavi Urban Health

Center, Vashind, a Primary Health Center in rural

areas as well as slums in Chembur area in

Mumbai.

Swati Ingole, MSW (Master of Social Work), has

been providing social work services to

underprivileged populations in Mumbai for over 12

years. She served as Coordinator for FOGSI’s

Kishori (Adolescent Empowerment) Project, an

initiative run in conjunction with LTMG Hospital and

SNEHA. She also worked as Secretary for F North

Ward Senior Citizens Association, an initiative of

Family Welfare Organisation for four years,

tackling various problems senior citizens faced and

organizing community events. With this same

passion to serve poor and needy, Shield

Foundation was founded by her in 2009- 2010. She

has had the privilege of working on research-based

projects funded by UNICEF, FOGSI, and others,

providing invaluable experience for her current

role.

07

Rashmi Joshi

Member

Rosita Mascarenhas

Member

Aditi Deshmukh

Treasurer

Smruti Patil

Joint Secretary

Dr. Nilesh Shah

Chief Adviser

& Member

He currently serves as Professor and Head of

Department for the Psychiatry Department of Sion

Hospital. Dr. Shah’s academic credentials include

an MBBS, DPS, MD (Psychiatry) from University of

Mumbai, and DNB (Psychiatry) from the Delhi

Board, and work experience includes over a

decade as Professor and Head of Psychiatry at

L.T.M.M.C-L.T.M.G.H, over 20 years of teaching

experience for medical students, postgraduates,

social work students and nursing students. Dr

Shah has 90 publications in various national and

international journals / books, and has received a

number of awards for Best Paper from Bombay

Psychiatry Society, Indian Psychiatric Society

(Western zonal branch), as well as the Spirit of

Mumbai Award of Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts

& Sangeetha Sabha.

She has done a B.A. and B.Sc. in Microbiology and

appeared for M.A. in English Literature. She is a

teacher at Bhide School, Nagpur, and very

motivated for social causes. She has always been

keen to work hard for the betterment of students,

and has received appreciation letters for hard work

an excellent result. Along with career goals, she

always has maintained a sense of responsibility

towards society, the marginalized and needy, and

currently serves as treasurer for Shield

Foundation.

She is an educationist presently working as a

lecturer in Shri Datta Meghe Polytechnic, Nagpur.

She is a science graduate, but later on switched

over to literature so as to continue education after

marriage in a conservative family. She holds a post

graduate degree in literature along with her

Bachelor’s degree in education and M Phil is in the

pipeline. Along with career goals, she always has

maintained a sense of responsibility towards

society, the marginalized and needy, and currently

serves as treasurer for Shield Foundation. She holds an M.A. in Philosophy, and has taught

in Ruparel Junior College, Khalsa Degree College,

Government Law College and in Mumbai

University as a visiting lecturer. As a volunteer of

an NGO- Stree Mukti Sanghatana- she has spread

awareness about waste management, and

organized e-waste collection campaign in B.A.R.C.

Colony wherein 525kg of e-waste was collected

and sent for recycling.

Her qualifications include a BA in sociology from

TTC and a Diploma in special education. She is a

special educator, working with mentally challenged

children and children with academic and learning

disabilities, and also is a social worker in the field

of education. In the past, she has worked in women

empowerment and counselling programmes.

OUR SERVICES

08

Free Medical Services

Recreational activities

Awareness and

Educational Services

Counselling Services

Health check ups

Free cataract OPD & Surgery

Yoga & Exercise

Memory Clinics

Treatment camps

Individual & Family

Legal aid

Pan & ID card services

Follow-up home visits

Picnic

Indoor/outdoor games

Socio-cultural celebrations

Educational workshops

Information sessions

Daily newspaper sessions

REGULAR ACTIVITIES

AND EVENTS

09

Weekly meetings:

Weekly or as per the requests of

senior citizens’ in Dharavi, meetings

are arranged between the senior

citizens and the staff members,

usually to discuss and decide the

activities or programmes to be held

next.

There are 12-18 participants on an

average at these meets. Also, in

these meetings, many social,

political, recreational and

educational issues are discussed

amongst the elderly. Support group

meetings are also arranged for

patients with diabetes, heart

diseases or other such health

problems so that they can mutually

discuss their problems and suggest

ways to improve their health.

Community Outreach:

In collaboration with L.T.M.G.

Nursing School, we regularly

conduct house to house surveys to

identify patients with any medical or

social problem(s).

We have developed pockets of

elderly in 4 areas of Dharavi, where

we carry out these surveys. 20

students along with three

paraprofessionals are able to reach

out to almost 50 houses every day.

10

Ophthalmic OPD:

Ophthalmic OPD for screening

cataract and to identify refractive

error is arranged once a week. 481

patients have been provided with

eye care and treatment services this

year.

Yoga and Physiotherapy:

On every Monday, Yoga and

Exercise sessions are conducted at

our center in collaboration with

LTMG Hospital. A group of ladies

with physical problems like Arthritis,

Knee problem, Shoulder pain,

Obesity etc. avail these facilities

every day in the morning. Two to

three occupational therapists guide

and supervise during the exercise.

Average attendance in these

sessions is 10- 12 participants.

Memory Clinic:

‘Memory Check Ups’ are arranged

twice in a month initially for few

months and then later on we have

arranged these check-ups as per

the need of the community. There

are around 100 beneficiaries of this

service this year.

Health check-ups:

The health check-ups are arranged

on Every Tuesday and Thursday.

The eye check-ups are arranged on

every second Tuesday. The health

cards are maintained for regular

patients. In three months period,

715 health cards were distributed

this year. It is observed that most of

the elderly are suffering from the

diseases like Diabetes,

Hypertension, Asthma, Cataract,

Arthritis, Orthopaedic problems ,

gastric problems, cardiac problems,

Psychological issues like Insomnia,

Dementia, Anxiety, Alzheimer’s,

Amnesia and multiple ailments etc.

On every Friday, there a special

exercise therapy is conducted.

Patients suffering from various

orthopaedic problems are referred

for special exercise sessions on

Friday at our Centre.

Due to regular services at centre,

referrals for Nebulization, ECG, BP

monitoring, Occupational therapy

have declined.

11

Counselling Services:

Every day, we organize counselling

for cases of elders’ abuse, for any

grievances of the elderly or for their

financial assistance. As and when

required, we do home visits for

family counselling for cases of

elders’ abuse.

We establish proper rapport with the

police and Govt. legal aid cell

authorities. As and when required,

such cases are also referred to

psychiatrists or legal counsellors.

The ‘Joint Action Committee’

comprising of local respectable

senior citizens is formed to deal with

the issues of elder abuse. Around

100 people got benefit from our

counselling services.

Legal Counselling:

Legal counselling is arranged as per

the need of cases either at center or

at the place of legal advisors.

Around 39 cases were solved this

year.

Educational and Recreation:

Regular newspapers and

magazines and a T.V. set are

provided for the senior citizens at

our centre.

For recreational purposes, we have

arranged games like cards, carom,

chess, and memory games. Often

outdoor games are organized.

Average attendance at any time is

12-15 senior citizens.

12

HIGHLIGHTS OF

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

An Acupressure Camp was

arranged on 10th April 2015 at

Tarun Bauddha Krida Mandal

Gym; Smt. Monica Banergi was

the resource person. 70 people

got benefit from this camp.

Smt. Monica Banergi discussed

and demonstrated how with

various acupressure tools and by

pressing various body parts,

different ailments can be treated.

It is a kind of supportive therapy.

Without taking any medicines,

diseases can be recovered

without any side-effects.

On 30th April 2015, we visited

ACC Cement plant office at

Kalamboli for the project ‘Village

Socio-economic Development

Asudgao’.

From 1st to 5th May, a focused

Group Discussion was arranged.

A structured questionnaire was

prepared.

Data was collected from a

diverse group of people and in

depth interviews were taken of

Focus groups. By analysing the

data collected, a master chart

was prepared and data is

managed and its report was

submitted to ACC Cement in the

month end.

On 20th October 2015, ‘World

elders’ day’ was celebrated.

Approx. 90 elderly attended the

programme.

A picnic was arranged on 26th

January 2016 at

Triumbakeshwar. 50 elderly

came along for this trip.

13

‘Musical Orchestra’ was

arranged by Rotary Club at Lala

Lajpatrai College on 15th

February 2016. 35 elderly

enjoyed the programme.

On the occasion of International

a programme was arranged at

Kasarwadi. 96 ladies attended

the event.

An educational workshop was

arranged on the topics:

General Health of Elderly by Dr.

Sangita Pednekar; General

Mental Health by Dr. Ritika;

Importance of exercise and

Occupational therapy by Dr.

Shailaja Jaywant.

A ‘Rangoli' competition on

Women’s health was also

arranged.

Along with that, Musical Chair

and one-minute games were

enjoyed by the women groups.

Statistics of ‘eye-care’ services offered by us in 2015-2016.

We have successfully helped 481 eye patients.

S. No. Eye Check-up Date

Total no. of beneficiaries

Cataract cases

Spectacles Referrals

1 13/04/2015 23 7 7 2

2 12/05/2015 19 2 2

3 15/06/2015 40 5 11

4 14/07/2015 38 6 9

5 11/08/2015 44 16 12 14

6 08/09/2015 80 10 34 2

7 13/10/2015 21 7 10

8 10/11/2015 27 5 8

9 08/12/2015 53 6 14 2

10 12/01/2016 40 15 8 3

11 09/02/2016 45 4 41

12 10/03/2016 51 10 41

Total 481 93 197 23

STATISTICS OF

‘EYE-CARE’ SERVICES

14

Goal: To Empower the underprivileged with skill development training

Objectives:

To empower illiterate women by basic education and with suitable skills.

To provide every individual an opportunity for vocational training as per their ability, irrespective of caste, creed, or gender.

To connect them with the industries requiring their skills.

To network with various government and non-government organisation for skill development and further up gradation of skills.

Target Groups:

School drop outs

Literacy rate of women is far less than that of men, and a high percent

of girls drop out of formal education before reaching the Vth class.

A large number of school drop outs do not have access to skill

development for improving their employability rate. The educational

entry requirements and long duration of courses of the formal training

system are some of the impediments for a person of low educational

attainment to acquire skills for his livelihood.

Immigrants from rural areas

Domestic workers

Under-privileged people belonging to low-income groups.

Women who face limited educational and working opportunities,

especially due to gender discrimination.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

PROJECT

15

Methodology:

Flexibility and care for students' real needs are the main features of

our basic and vocational skills education.

No formal education is required to attend the private certificated

courses

Teachers adapt to the student's capacities and the length of the

course is expanded to meet the need.

The focus is on "performing" and not on "Knowing". Lecturing is

restricted to the minimum and emphasis is given on "hands on

training".

Flexible delivery mechanism (part time) to suit needs of various

target groups

Individual counselling with an encouraging approach is provided in

order to optimize the students' performance.

16

Course Plan & Duration:

Beauty Course

Skin therapy, professional ethics and

communication skills, theory of massage,

masks and packs, home care recipes for skin

and hair, basic facials are the topics covered in

this course. Its duration is 3 months.

On 15th April 2015, 2 batches of this course

were started, with 20 women students in each

batch.

Tailoring & cutting:

This a course that helps the students learn how

to make clothes for themselves and others.

They are taught basic stitches; to make

apparels for ladies, gents and kids; to design

dresses, both regular wears and fancy

dresses.

On 15th April 2015, a batch of tailoring class

was started, with 20 students.

17

Short Courses:

Young girls and women can learn practical

skills through short term classes like ‘mehendi’

making, micro-business, handicrafts such as

flower making, candle making, ceramic pot

making, crochet laces making etc. They can

make beautiful and artistically crafted things

using materials that are easily available to

them in their surroundings.

The classes are held during the vacations and

during festival season. Sessions in life skills

and micro-business sessions are held regularly

to prompt the students and encourage them to

achieve financial independence through self-

employment.

Some computer courses were also arranged at

our center for local community kids.

‘Mehendi’ Class was initiated on 18th April 2015

and went on for one month.

Embroidery making course:

‘Embroidery making’ class which was

supported by Inner Wheel Club of Chembur

was initiated on 1st February 2016 and was

attended by 20 students.

Jewellery making course

Jewellery making course was initiated on 1st

January 2016 and was attended by 20

students. This was also supported by Inner

Wheel Club of Chembur.

18

Respite Care givers Course:

This was held from 20 st Feb 2015 to 1st June

2015 with a batch of 20 students. This

programme was sponsored by ACC ltd. Total

duraction of course was 3 months. For two

months theory was taught and for a month,

they were placed in the local hospital for

practical experience. They have been trained

for basic nursing care skils, yoga, exercise, soft

skills, basic mental health care, etc. The

hospitals have absorbed almost 50% trainees.

Others were placed 10% trainees were placed

for home based care for elderly.

Courses supported by MCED:

All the trainees received Rs. 1000/- from the

Govt. of Maharashtra after completion of the

following courses which were supported by

MCED.

Tailoring and fashion Designing course:

This was held from 1/9/2015 to 1/ 10/ 2015

with 30 students.

Jewelry making course:

This was held from 27/10/2015 to 30/11/2015

with 23 students.

2nd Batch of Respite Care givers Training:

This was held from June 2015- to Aug 2015

with 20 students.

DTP Batch:

This was held from 15/12/15 to 21/01/ 2016.

With 29 students.

The following case studies showcases how our team tackled and solved the

problems faced by the members of our society who came to us asking for

help.

Ganesh Dethe, is 75 year old senior citizen. He used to stay with his family

at Matunga Labour Camp after his retirement. After his son’s marriage, there

were constant disputes in his family. So they went to their village. But few

days later his health deteriorated, so they come back to Mumbai. After

reaching Mumbai, their daughter-in-law again started misbehaving and

constantly was threatening them. Due to poor age, less exposure, reduced

physical capacity, they couldn’t do anything, though the house was in their

own name. Police was not taking any strict action. Their daughter-in-law

started physical abuse too. So Mrs. Dethe approached us for intervention.

We invited their daughter-in-law for counselling. She refused to come. We

have then sent the legal notice to his son to vacate the house. Our

paraprofessional visited the daughter-in-law at their house and did

counselling. Since then she behaved properly later on. Thus the optimum

pressure helped to resolve the matter.

Kriti Gangawane, is a 35 year old lady. She could not take education after 8th

standard. After marriage she was going through financial constraints. Her

husband was short tempered and used to abuse her. We have offered her to

join ‘Respite Care Givers Course’. Immediately after training, one of the ACC

Ltd’s employee needed help to look after their more than 80 year old uncle

and Aunty. Kriti got that job with salary of ₹ 10,000/-. Now she is a financially

independent person.

OUR IMPACT

19

CASE STUDY 1

CASE STUDY 2

Report on the inaugural programme for the project

‘Development of Comprehensive Health Services’ on the

occasion of World Elders’ Day

The programme was commemorated on 20th Oct 2015.

Chief Guest was Dr. Ranjeet Patil, Hon. Minister of State, Home.

Guest of Honour was Dr. Suhasini Nagda, Medical Education Director,

BMC.

Special Guests were Mr. Vishnu Gaikwad, Area Councilor; Dr. Daksha

Pandit; Dr. Sangita Pednekar, Prof. Dept. of Medicine; Dr. Bansode,

HOD PSM; Dr. Shailaja Jaywant, Dept of Occupational Therapy.

DEVELOPMENT OF

COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH

SERVICES PROJECT

20

In the beginning, Dr. Patil and other honorable guests worshiped the statue

of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar with Garland and lightened the lamp.

Dr Ranjeet Patil expressed that he has liked the project as it is for the benefit

of underprivileged elderly and health is the major aspect for elderly. He

appreciated the work done by the organisation for the betterment of senior

citizens, and skill development in our 5 years span. Our NGO has reached

out to 10,000 elderly in short span and provided individual services for more

than 3000 elderly. Our organisation has provided vocational training for

almost 1000 women. The work done through the multiple need-based

services for elderly at no cost is very important, he added.

21

He also appreciated the skill development in nursing care assistance course

initiated by our organisation, with which women are generating ₹10,000/- to

₹15,000/- per month and sustaining their families, even when they are single

parents. The project had double impact: Senior citizens get good and

authentic care giver; poor and destitute women are getting jobs. He also

appreciated the contribution of Sion Hospital for the cause of elderly.

He appreciated the work of Dr. Suhasini Nagda and other doctors, who are

actually sensible and working for social cause while doing their jobs.

Dr. Nagda also appreciated the initiative taken by Shield Foundation and

LTMG hospital for the betterment of health of elderly. She added that she will

always promote such projects for the elderly.

22

All the doctors from Sion Hospital who supported Senior citizens project of

the organisation were felicitated on this occasion for their contribution for the

social cause. Senior citizens above 80 year were felicitated by Dr. Nagada.

Dr. Sangita Pednekar described the health problems of elderly and her

willingness to contribute for the project for twice in a week.

Mr. Vishnu Gaikawad, Area councillor, also appreciated the tireless work

done by Shield Foundation since last 5 years. He added that he will support

the organisation, whenever required.

23

Mr. Dicholkar, Secretary, Mumbai Region, Fescom requested Dr. Ranjeet

Patil to look into the issue of ‘Elder Abuse’ and Noise Pollution, as it is

affecting the elderly the most.

Dr. Ranjeet Patil summed up saying that Government will definitely support

such an innovative work for the society, whether it is for the health, elderly or

for skill development.

24

Quarterly Report of the Project ‘Development of

Comprehensive health Services’ for the senior citizens of

Dharavi in collaboration with Sion Hospital

Goal:

Development of comprehensive health services, for the elderly.

Objective:

Training need assessment of health workers.

To sensitize health workers over issues of elderly at various health

posts at Dharavi

Based on that, the development of module for geriatric health

services

To build the capacity of Health post workers to work on special

issues of elderly.

To develop a domiciliary geriatric services to those patients who

are homebound.

To identify the socio-educational/ demographic profiles as well as

the health profile two way: establishment of geriatric clinics at

Health Post areas

Development of referral system

To sensitize the community by conducting the sensitization

workshops for the community people and other service providers.

To form the area wise team along with the elderly for those

respective localities to work on the issues concerned with elderly.

25

The project was initiated in the month of Nov. 2015. Dean of LTMGH and

LTMMC and all the concerned departments from LTMGH & LTMMC, who

have showed their willingness for supporting the project like Dept. of

Psychiatry, Dept. of Medicine and the Dept. of Occupational Therapy were

informed about initiation of the project. As per the earlier discussion the

project was supported by a team of doctors of Department of Psychiatry,

Medicine and Dept. of Occupational therapy. Dr. Nilesh Shah and his team

have provided all the necessary support for basic health assessments of all

the senior citizens of Dharavi. Prof. Dr. Sangeeta Pednekar, Incharge of

Geriatric OPD, Lecturer has also extended her support. Dr. Dharmendra

Pande and their team also reached out in community for basic health

assessments of senior citizens of Dharavi.

November 2015:

In this month the interview schedule is prepared for baseline survey. The

interview schedule is prepared for basic data collection of senior citizens like

their personal information, their economic status, their health status, their

habits, their health needs etc. The data is collected from 300 elderly from

Dharavi from localities like Matunga labour camp, Kunchikurvey nagar,

Kumbharwada, Muslim Nagar etc. Data analysis is going on. Still unlike our

earlier survey findings, health need is the primary requirement expressed by

the senior citizens. Accordingly the planning for basic health check-up at

different communities in Dharavi and Matunga Labour Camp and referral

system is being done.

December 2015 – January 2016:

The basic health check-ups were done at the localities: Matunga Labour

Camp, Muslim Nagar, Kumbharwada, and Kamala Nagar. Every Monday,

Tuesday and Thursday, check-ups were arranged. Total 650 patients were

evaluated by the doctors from the Dept. of Psychiatry, Dept. of Occupational

Therapy and Dept. of Medicine. Every day free investigation for B.P, Blood

Sugar, and Weight was being done for all the senior citizens. ECG is also

being done at our centre for the recommended elderly. Patients with

orthopaedic problems also scanned with bone densitometer. Medicines for

cough cold, joint pains, diabetes, B.P, anti-allergic drugs, muscle relaxants,

antibiotics, pain killers and multi-vitamins were provided for the senior

citizens. We have identified 310 cases with high blood pressure, 25 patients

with psychiatric illness, and 82 patients with diabetes. 50 patients were

identified with orthopaedic problem, 7 elderly were identified with ENT

problem, and 141 cases were investigated for Eye problems. Free spectacles

were given for 31 elderly. Free spectacles were given for 38 elderly. 235

patients are referred to Medicine OPD for further investigation and treatment.

The identified patients with orthopaedic problems are referred for intervention

to occupational.

26

Referral Services at LTMGH & LTMMC:

For referral services, all the patients were referred to Sion Hospital.

Paraprofessional from the organization takes all the needy/ single / destitute

and referred patients to Sion Hospital for further investigation.

Dept. of Medicine:

As per the earlier discussion, all the patients were referred to LTMGH for

further investigations, diagnosis and treatments. For the physical health

related issues, identified cases are referred mainly to Dr. Sangita Pednekar,

Incharge- Geriatric OPD No 6, on Wednesday at Sion Hospital. Dr.

Dharmedra Pande and their team of Doctors from OPD No. 6 supported us

for all the cases for the required investigations like blood check-up,

Ultrasound, X ray etc. at the respective department in the hospital.

Dept of Psychiatry:

Senior citizens with psychiatric complaints of sleeplessness, anxiety,

depression, Dementia were referred to the Dept. of Psychiatry at Sion

Hospital. Dr. Nilesh Shah, HOD, Department of Psychiatry and his team of

doctors has provided support for the project in crisis situation for medical

assessments of the patients’.

Department of Occupational Therapy:

Dr. Shailaja Jaywant and her team is providing assistance for exercises for

senior citizens every day. On Fridays, special consultations are made

available for senior citizens with orthopedic problems.

The list of Doctors supported for the Assessments of an elderly patients

at various community sites:

Prof. Dr. Sangita Pednekar: In charge, Geriatric OPD, Dept. of Medicine,

LTMGH & LTMMC

Lecturer, Dr. Dharmendra Pande: Geriatric OPD, Dept. of Medicine

Team of Dept. of Psychiatry: Team of 15 doctors supported for health check-

up and community outreach.

27

Observations & Learnings:

Sometimes it is difficult for senior citizens to walk even for 10 minutes, so

instead of having basic assessment at our centre, we have arranged medical

check-ups at various nearby locations. It was also observed that senior

citizens require free medicines

The project was appreciated and supported by the above mentioned team of

Sion Hospital. Being the implementing organization, we have learnt that

almost all needy elderly require constant medication and are required to take

to Sion Hospital, as and when needed for diagnostic tests and to decide

intervention plan, therefore separate van booking is necessary to take senior

citizens for check-up at Sion Hospital on OPD days from all the clusters of

Dharavi. Currently we are mobilizing needy and destitute elderly for

consultations at Medicine OPD with the help of cabs.

It was observed that though the doctors are sensitized for senior citizens, and

treat elders with care and empathy, the class 4 staff is less sensitive; so

sensitization workshop for ward boys and nurses is needed to be arranged.

All the diagnostic tests, are not being done in one building therefore, elderly

are roaming around from one building to another at various floors and gets

frustrated, therefore request for having all the check-ups on one floor or else

at least in the same building is required to be given to higher authorities at

Sion Hospital.

There is separate window for senior citizens at Sion Hospital, which is there

but window person is giving paper to those having age proof, which is correct

but the underprivileged senior citizens with less qualification and exposure,

find it difficult to tell their own age and even do not carry such proofs and

sometimes they do forget to bring it to hospital. So their sensitization is

required at community level for seniors.

NGO is helping them out for preparing their required documents.

For easy referral and follow up service, we have developed ‘Referral Medical

Cards’ for senior citizens for proper monitoring of their health

Hospitalizations: During check-ups 9 patients found with very high BP were

referred to Casualty’. Then they were immediately admitted to Medicine

ward. They are now under treatment

28

JOIN US

29

We welcome students and professionals as volunteers. We have dedicated

resources to help guide you in designing a project in areas such as

communications, research, public health, financial strategy and other topics

to match your skills.

We invite you to contribute to these suggested activities targeting low

income elderly citizens in Dharavi.

Provide three legal counselling sessions to an elderly person facing a legal challenge (property ownership, will declaration, etc)

Rupees

Run a weekly memory and mental wellbeing clinic for one month Rs. 2000

Sponsor daily yoga sessions for one month Rs. 2000

Fund a cataract surgery Rs. 6000

Sponsor one month’s supply of groceries and medical care Rs. 2000

Purchase aid/equipment

Walker Rs. 2500

Eyeglasses Rs. 100

Hearing aid Rs. 750

Crutches Rs. 1100

To make a donation, please contact us to send a check payable to “Shield

Foundation”.

Shield Foundation partners with corporations on CSR initiatives including

strategic philanthropy, event sponsorship, employee volunteer

opportunities and in-kind support. Please contact us for more information.

Volunteer with us

Fund a cause

Partner with us

SHIELD Foundation,

C/O Tarun Bauddha Krida Mandal,

Ambedkar Rd, Matunga Labour Camp,

Dharavi, Mumbai – 400019.

Tel: 022- 24092308

Mobile: 9833406288

Email: shieldfoundation@gmail.com

Also visit us at:

Website: www.shield-foundation.org

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ShieldFoundationIndia

BLOG: http://shield-foundation.blogspot.in/

Picasa: https://picasaweb.google.com/107364788581843409343