Need to improve dementia care stressed
Lahore : October 01: THE Institute of Psychology (IP) at Beaconhouse National University (BNU) commemorated the “World Alzheimer’s Month” in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Pakistan by holding a seminar at the varsity’s city campus on Monday.
September 2013 marks the second World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to raise awareness about the disease. Patron-in-Chief of Alzheimer’s Pakistan and Board Member Alzheimer’s Disease International Professor Dr Yasmeen Rashid, who is also a renowned gynaecologist and a health/social-activist, was the key-note speaker followed by Syed Hussain Jafri, Secretary General, Alzheimer’s Pakistan.
According to them, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative brain syndrome which affects memory, thinking, behaviour and emotions.
Dr Yasmin Raashid highlighted the different aspects of dementia care and management. She said, “Population of Pakistan is also aging fast, which means that improving dementia care and support is one of our big healthcare challenges.” Hussain Jafri said the governments should make dementia a priority and National Dementia Plan should be developed and implemented to ensure that health and social care systems were adequately structured and funded to provide high-quality care and support to people throughout the dementia journey. Dr Ruhi Khalid, Director, Institute of Psychology, BNU, highlighted the need of the involvement of the youth in creating awareness and services for people with dementia and announced that BNU would join hands with Alzheimer’s Pakistan in developing these much needed services in the country.The faculty and a large number of students attended the seminar.The news.
