GP GROCER
Doctor hands out fruit and vegies to malnourished patients
A TOWNSVILLE doctor has taken the extraordinary step of providing fresh fruit and vegetables to patients he fears are not eating properly.
My Family Doctors director Dr Praveen Kumar bought a refrigerator which he stocks with healthy food provided by nearby markets to feed to his malnourished patients.
It comes as cost of living pressures continue to hit the hip pocket of many Townsville resi- dents, with demands on a Salvation Army kitchen in Condon rising fivefold in just 12 months.
Dr Kumar said up to 430 patients a day attended his 24- hour clinic opposite the Willows Shopping Centre and many were not eating properly, leading to further health problems.
“Some of our patients didn’t look like they had had a good meal in awhile,” he said.
“We stock it on Sunday and by Tuesday, almost everything is gone.”
“Patients take a couple of things and you know that, at least that night, they will have a proper meal,” Dr Kumar said.
“One of the biggest contributes to chronic illness is lack of nutrition so if we can help with that, and maybe provide some education …, that’s a start.”
Dr Kumar said the market stallholders had been supportive of the trial, and he hoped grocery chains would also support the initiative.
The clinic stocks the fridge with bread, fruit and vegetables and struggling patients are encouraged to take a few things home.
Dr Kumar said residents would be surprised by how many people were struggling to put food on the table.
He said cost of living pressures meant a lot of his patients, especially those with chronic illnesses or disabilities, often had to choose between paying for nutritious food or their electricity bill.
The clinic has also recently vowed to absorb the $ 7 GP cocontribution fee if it passes the Senate to further alleviate hippocket pain for patients.
A Salvation Army nationwide survey, launched during the Red Shield Appeal in May, found that one quarter of their clients could not afford a substantial meal at least once a day.
Townsville Major David Twivey said the number of people attending the Salvos Community Cafe at Condon each Tuesday had jumped from 22 this time last year, to more than 100 this year.
He said the charity helped a variety of people, from pensioners to people who had lost their jobs.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics regional figures showed an unemployment rate of 7.1 per cent for the Townsville region, a slight improvement on the April figures.
Major Twivey said many people were “living close to the edge” financially.
“The message to people should be that the services are here and you are never alone,” he said.
Dietitians Association of Australia spokeswoman Natasha Murray said eating healthy food was important for everyone but particularly those with chronic illnesses such as heart conditions and diabetes.