These senior citizens are non-U.S. citizens, said Wilgus, a full-time physician of the Commonwealth Health Center, who regularly visits the Aging Center and the Department of Corrections.
“I am hoping we can identify funds, perhaps grants to address that small group [of senior citizens],” she told Variety after speaking at the Conference on Aging at the Aqua Resort Club.
Wilgus believes that other islands residents don’t have any access to medicines.
This problem, she said, can be addressed by the Obama administration, which favors universal healthcare.
Most senior citizens in the CNMI have high blood pressure, and cholesterol as well as diabetes,
Wilgus said the senior citizens at the Aging Center have access to exercise equipment.
The elderly should always participate in physical activities at the center, she added.
When she first started her medical clinic at the Aging Center, Wilgus said, there were so “many untreated people, they had no medicine and their blood pressure was quite high.”
Of the 30 senior citizens who underwent medical examination, only one had normal blood pressure, she said.
However, she added, this trend gradually changed and the manamko’s health has improved.
She said the nursing students of Northern Marianas Colleges assist her every Wednesday at the Aging Center.
In her message to the manamko’ during the conference on Friday, Wilgus emphasized the importance of regular exercise and a happy outlook in life.
“Smile is the best facelift,” she said.
Dr. David Hardt, for his part, talked about eye care and the importance of regular eye examination.
