The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and Hamad Medical Corporation's WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and Dementia recently organised a three-day regional workshop to follow up the implementation of the Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025.
This followed the previous workshop held in May last year in Qatar, which focused on addressing dementia-related challenges and accelerating the multisectoral innovative collaboration to configure and implement specific regional and local responses to the rising health concern globally caused by dementia.
Representatives of WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as representatives from the MoPH, civil society, people living with dementia, their families and caregivers participated in the workshop to share knowledge and best practices to strengthen public health response to dementia in areas related to dementia policy, risk reduction, awareness, diagnosis, treatment, care and support for both dementia patients and caregivers. The workshop also tackled dementia information systems, research, and solutions.
This year's focus will be on expanding the capacity of the Eastern Mediterranean Region countries to develop comprehensive national dementia plans and implement the existing plans for effective dementia care strategies to meet the unique needs of the region.
Dr Saleh al-Marri said: "It has been a pleasure to work with colleagues and partners at WHO as we strategise and develop innovative solutions to shared healthcare challenges. HE Dr Hanan al-Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, stresses the importance of disease prevention by improving health literacy, early screening programmes and promoting healthy lifestyle practices, and fully encourages all activities that support this."
Dr Rayana Buhaqa, WHO Representative in Qatar, underlined WHO's commitment to supporting countries in the region to achieve the goals of the Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025 and to develop regional, country-specific, multisectoral responses to manage the health and social aspects of dementia.
Dr Hanadi al-Hamad, head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and DementiaCare, and vice president of Long-Term, Rehabilitation and Geriatric Care at Hamad Medical Corporation, reiterated Qatar's commitment to strengthening partnerships and co-operation between countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and stressed the importance of improving the quality of life for people living with dementia.
Dr al-Hamad added: "Our joint efforts are aimed at helping ensure that dementia care is given strategic attention and priority in the case of Qatar, as set out in the Qatar National Health Strategy 2018-2022. While we focus on raising public awareness, improving diagnostics and enhancing support for dementia patients and caregivers alike, we are also addressing the growing need for targeted research and innovation in this area. In addition, together we can work to better protect the rights of people living with dementia."