Nutrition & Health

Biography

Biography: Juma Khudonazarov

Abstract

The rapid assessment method for older people (RAM-OP) is a quick, simple, low-cost tool that allows humanitarian and development workers to obtain valuable information on older people specific needs, including their nutritional status, health and well-being, activities of daily living, disability, access to water and sanitation through a house to house survey. The simplicity of methodology will make it valuable and sustainable tool for local people in different parts of the world. This is unique and the only currently tested, available free of charge methodology that focuses on people aged 60 and over. Developed by HelpAge International in collaboration with Valid International and Brixton Health, and with funding from Humanitarian Innovation Fund, the method is so quick because it requires a sample size of just 192 (regardless of the size of the population to survey) and the process can be achieved in just around two weeks, including training and data collection, entry and analysis. Older people (generally defined as people aged 60 years and older) are a vulnerable group for malnutrition, health, water and sanitation in humanitarian and developmental contexts. For instance, due to their age related to oral health they have specific nutritional needs, such as easily digestible and palatable food adapted to those with chewing problems, which is dense in nutrients. Due to the low visibility of older people (limited mobility) they are often neglected and receive only small portion of humanitarian aid. In famine and displacement situations where populations are dependent on food distributions, older people often find the general ration inappropriate to their tastes and needs, and have difficulties accessing the distributions, or have difficulties transporting rations home.

Figure: RAM-OP in Ethiopia