Reduction of food waste in CCC need of the hour, says ageing Covid patients

Aurangabad, May 3:

Taking cognizance of grievances relating to food waste made by the elderly Covid patients, a local NGO, Anna Vachawa Samiti (Food Save Committee) through a memorandum tried to attract the attention of the municipal commissioner A K Pandey towards the issue and urged for his intervention in stopping the food waste in the Covid Care Centres of the city.

It may be noted that the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and others had appointed a contractor to provide food to the Covid patients undergoing treatment in their CCC. The food is served either in form of 'thali or a food packet. The meals are provided two times a day and the rates are fixed on a per person basis. Hence the contractor is providing an equal quantity of food to all patients (irrespective of age). The elderly persons consume less quantity of food 1 or 2 chappatis or one dish etc. Hence the remaining food is getting wasted. They issued was spoken with the caterers, but they showed an inability in solving the issue. The center-heads also expressed their helplessness.

The AVS convenor Anant Motale said, " I had received six letters from elderly patients, who urged us, to take up the matter so as to save food waste. They are in the age group of 65 years to 80 years. The consumption of food reduces amongst the elderly persons along with their age. The wastage of food in the CCCs hurt the sentiments of these elderly patients. Through the memorandum, we have urged the civic chief to intervene in the matter for proper food management and save food waste. We have also offered to help the AMC in saving food and distributing it to the poor and needy people in

the city."

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Elderly Patients Grieved

On condition of anonymity, one complainant said, " My mother was in CCC near Seven Hills. The food served to the inmates comprises four chappatis, 2 cooked vegetable dishes, rice, amti etc. She was unable to consume such a large quantity of food. Hence the remaining leftover food was being thrown in the dustbin daily. My mother insisted to serve to one or 2 chappatis and one cooked vegetable dish (less spicy and oily), but was in vain. I feel the CCC management should first serve 1 or 2 chappatis with a limited vegetable dish and then re-serve on patients demand."

Another male patient on anonymity said, " I was admitted in a CCC, situated in Begumpura vicinity from March 16 to 26. The food packets were served to us. The quantity of food was more than we people of my age could consume. Ironically, the leftover food was being wasted daily. Proper food management in CCC is need of the hour."

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Elders prefer eating food frequently, but in small quantity

The city's registered dietician (and clinical nutritionist) Prachi Dekate says, " The food appetite is less, but the elder persons prefer to intake frequent meals in small quantities. The worries of elderly persons are to maintain themselves as most of them suffer from co-morbidities. For the elderly Covid patients, their diet should be full of proteins and fibrous for easy digestion. Food helps to gain immunity and speedy recovery from the ailment. Besides, the elders are also alert about the gastric and consistently struggle with their artificial dentures. Hence, soft cooked food which is easily chewable and easily digestible is the most preferred. This would help them to stay away from acidity, gastric problems, etc."