MOPH and WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and Dementia Co-Host Workshop to Expedite Global Action Plan for Dementia Execution

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According to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Hamad Medical Corporation's WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and Dementia, a three-day regional workshop was recently convened to oversee the progress of implementing the Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia for the period 2017-2025.

This workshop continued the momentum from a previous gathering held in Qatar in May of the preceding year.

Participating in the workshop were representatives from the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), the Ministry of Public Health, civil society, individuals living with dementia, their families, and caregivers. The aim was to exchange knowledge and best practices, with particular emphasis on enhancing the public health response to dementia in areas encompassing dementia policy, risk reduction, awareness, diagnosis, treatment, care, and support for both patients and caregivers. Additionally, the workshop delved into discussions on dementia information systems, research, and potential solutions.

With over 55 million people currently affected by dementia worldwide, a number projected to reach nearly 78 million by 2030, the impact on individuals, families, and communities is profound, placing a growing burden on healthcare and social support systems.

This year's focal point centers on expanding the capacity of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to establish comprehensive national dementia plans and effectively implement existing strategies for dementia care, tailor-made to address the unique needs of the region.

Dr. Saleh Al Marri expressed his satisfaction with collaborating with WHO and partners to devise innovative solutions to shared healthcare challenges. Meanwhile, Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, emphasized the importance of disease prevention through improved health literacy, early screening programs, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, offering her full support to activities aligned with these objectives.

Dr. Rayana Buhaqa, WHO Representative in Qatar, underscored WHO's commitment to assisting countries in the region in achieving the goals of the Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025. This commitment extends to the development of regional, country-specific, and multisectoral responses aimed at addressing both the healthcare and social dimensions of dementia.

Dr. Hanadi Al-Hamad, Head of the WHO Collaborating Center for Healthy Ageing and DementiaCare, and Vice President of Long-Term, Rehabilitation, and Geriatric Care at Hamad Medical Corporation, reiterated Qatar's dedication to enhancing partnerships and cooperation among countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. She also emphasized the importance of improving the quality of life for people living with dementia. Dr. Hanadi Al-Hamad noted that their collective efforts are aimed at giving strategic importance to dementia care, as outlined in the Qatar National Health Strategy 2018-2022. This involves raising public awareness, improving diagnostic capabilities, providing better support for dementia patients and caregivers, and addressing the growing need for focused research and innovation in this area. In addition, their shared efforts seek to protect the rights of individuals living with dementia.

It is worth noting that the latest WHO report presented to Member States during the World Health Assembly in 2023 stressed the urgent need for comprehensive efforts in all countries and across all domains to achieve the targets set by the Global Dementia Action Plan by 2025, with a primary focus on supporting individuals living with dementia.