LASI field survey launched

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, April 30, 2018: Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Main Wave I Phase II field survey was launched in five districts of Manipur on Monday.

LASI is a nation-wide survey to recognise health, economic, social, and overall wellbeing of people aged 45 years and above in India. The survey is undertaken by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai under the aegis of the ministry of health and family welfare and Helping Organisation for Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development (HOPARD), Lamphel is the field agency.

The LASI survey covers Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Chandel and Senapati. The survey will cover 40 villages and will collect information from at least 1200 respondents.

The survey will cover various aspects of their family and social network, health, health care utilization, work and employment, retirement and pension and their expectations. In health component, it will cover physical health measures like height, weight, hip and waist circumference, and tests of physiological measures such as blood pressure, lung function, grip strength, timed walk, and vision test, after obtaining informed consent.

The survey health team will also collect few drops of respondent’s blood sample through finger prick. The blood sample will be used to test for anemia, diabetes (HbA1c), Epstein virus (EPV), C-reactive protein (CRP). Health result card of various tests done from the respondents will be provided for reference along with the referral letter to the nearest public health facility. A community schedule is administered to key informants of the community to gather information village/ward/CEB level about infrastructures, welfare policies and programs.

This longitudinal study will help to formulate policies and programs for the adults and older people in Manipur and country, said director, HOPARD, Dr. Latashori K in a press statement released today.  She requests the concerned district officials and public to give full cooperation and support to the survey team for successful completions of the survey.