The capital city of South China's Guangdong Province hopes to set up a community service scheme offering nursing and medical help to the elderly.

Li Weijie, director of the Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau, told China Daily yesterday that a trial will begin this year in 16 communities within the city's six districts. If the scheme is successful, other areas will be included.

"The scheme is expected to cover all districts in the city within the next three to five years," said Li.

He said the network will mainly provide daily nursing and medical services for the elderly.

In addition, Li said the city will continue to promote social welfare services this year, by building a number of welfare homes for the elderly and orphans.

These would include a school for orphans and a home for those suffering from senile dementia.

Poor people, including the poor elderly and orphans, make up nearly 10 per cent of the city's total population, bureau statistics show.

"Some of them still do not have the protection of medical insurance and other welfare benefits," Li said.

To provide social welfare services for people in need, the municipal government has set aside 40 million yuan (US$4.8 million) to establish charity hospitals in the past 10 years.

Source: China Daily