The Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation has called on relevant authorities and stakeholders to care more  for the elderly to help them live better lives.

The group made the call at an event, held at Amawbia, Awka South Council Area, in commemoration of the 2021 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, tagged “A One-day Policy Dialogue with State Government Agencies and Relevant Stakeholders on Health, Social Well-being and Protection Policy for the Elderly in the State”.

Correspondent, Chibuzor Obidike reports that World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, WEAAD, celebrated on fifteenth June every year, was launched by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, aimed at providing opportunity for communities around the world to promote better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation, ADF, on the other hand is a non-governmental, non-political, charitable organization founded by Iyom Josephine Anenih in 2016, and seeks to create awareness about the prevalence, prevention and possible cure of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in Nigerian communities.

Declaring the event open, the state Commissioner for Social Welfare, Women and Children Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue represented by a Special Assistant to Governor Obiano, Mr. Onyeka Ebenebe described the celebration as apt considering the importance of the elderly in their service to the nation and their verse knowledge in all aspects of human endeavors and commended  the ADF for its quest in caring and enlightening the people.

Lady Ndidi  assured that the ministry is always ready to partner and adopt ideas and initiatives that will better the life of the state populace and improve the living standards of the people and expressed t.he hope of more sensitization of the state citizenry for improved health, economic and social wellbeing of the elderly.

For the convener, Iyom Anenih, Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills causing a general decline in cognitive ability⅞he said since government cannot do everything alone, there is need for people to invest in the upkeep of elderly people and pointed out that Alzheimer’s disease, which affects five to eight percent of people above sixty years of age, has no current cure but treatment for symptoms.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners, Dr. Daniel Ezeanwu, defined the event as an eye opener to brainstorm on the prevalence and prevention of diseases that exist among the elderly, which according to him, can be done with proper care.

Presenting a paper titled, Policy framework for Advancing the Health, Social Wellbeing and Protection of the Elderly, a resource person, Dr. Henry Duru called for change of strategy towards caring for the elderly and listed health, economic and social wellbeing as major parts of their lives that need attention.

In their reactions, the Director News and Current Affairs Department of Anambra Broadcasting Service, Mr. Gab Okpalaeze, Director National Orientation Agency Barrister Charles Nworji, and Mr. Emma Elekwa, while applauding Dr. Duru, suggested that his presentation be adopted as a working document.

The theme for the 2021 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is “Elder Abuse, Prevention, Lets’ Talk”.

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