Here is a short report on the activities during the just ended World Alzheimer`s Month.On the Tuesday the 2nd of September Alzheimer`s Ghana launched the Months celebration at the Nabita Nursing Training College in Tema.

• Thursday the 4th of September, our team was hosted on Dementia Awareness and Education programme on Hot FM/Radio Station at Accra. The programme lasted for about 20mins and attracted over 15million listeners both in the cities and villages.
• Wednesday the 10^th of September, our team also organised Dementia Awareness and Education programme at Citi FM/Radio Station at Accra the and this programme attracted over 20million audience.
• Sunday the 14^th of September, our team undertook Dementia Awareness and Education programme and Research Questionnaires at Royal House Chapel at Afienya town in the Ningo Prampram District Assembly. About 100 congregations was educated.
• Tuesday the 16^th of September, our team again undertook Dementia Awareness and Education programme and Research Questionnaires at Royal House Chapel at Afienya town in the Ningo Prampram District Assembly.
• Wednesday 17^th of September, our team conducted Dementia Awareness and Research Questionnaires at the Morbole Local Community in the Ningo Prampram District of Ghana.
• Friday the 19^th of September, our team were at Ashaiman Senior High School for education on Dementia Awareness and Research Questionnaires. Over 200 students between the ages of 16-25yrs at Ashaiman in the Tema Metropolital Assembly participated in the activity.
• Sunday the 21^st of September, our team visited Afienya Roman Catholic Church and did a presentation on Dementia and World Alzheimer`s Day. Over 250 people participated.

• Monday the 15^th of September, our team did a presentation on Dementia and reducing its Risks at the Rotary Club, Accra. Over 50 people were present.
• Thursday the 25^th of September, our team visited the Minister for Health and Nungua Traditional Council to invite the Minister, the chiefs and elders to the conference.
• Tuesday the 30^th September between 6am – 7am, our team was hosted by Ghana Television Corporation (GTV) on Breakfast show. We used this occasion to educate the public of over 25million on the topic Dementia: Can we reduce the risk?

 

 

Tuesday 30^th September between 10:30am – 1:30pm

Alzheimer`s Ghana climaxed the month`s programmes with a Conference involving Government officials, WHO representative, Traditional Leaders, Security personnel from Ghana Armed Forces, Health Professionals from Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Services, Nursing/Medical Students, other NGOs, representatives from various media groups and other stakeholders. Below is the programme line-up.

Theme- Dementia: Can we reduce the risk?

Conference: Tuesday, 30^th September 2014   10.30am – 1.30pm
Venue: Christ The King Catholic Church Conference Hall

Aims

• to highlight the plight of people with dementia and their families in Ghana’s ageing population
• to look at how to reduce the risk of dementia in Ghana by involving stakeholders and the general public
• to launch an appeal for support for the organisation and people affected

Chairman: Professor Joseph Bediako Asare, (Chairman, Mental Health Board)

King Odaifio Welentsi III, Chief of Nungua Traditional Area.

Conference Pictures

September 21^st of each year, is a year, is a day on which Alzheimer ‘s  organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia.

How Can World Alzheimer’s Day Help

Awareness about this degenerative and irreversible disorder is very important to understand and care for the patients affected with Alzheimer’s. The world Alzheimer’s Day focuses on getting more people know about the disease and why and how the patients could be managed though the disease itself cannot be cured.

The first people who should be educated on the symptoms and management of the disease are those who have someone suffering from it. In most of the cases the early Alzheimer’s symptoms are mistaken for age related forgetfulness and the disease is diagnosed only after it advances to a higher stage making it equally difficult for the patients and for the caregivers.

Being patient and knowing the symptoms and the extent to which the disease can progress will help in taking care of the patient and bearing with the pain of seeing their loved ones deteriorate into living log. The international Alzheimer’s  day tells the people that, they are not alone in their misery and someone next to them are facing the same or similar trauma; the talk show and the articles on the disease helps in educating the world to know more about the disease. The day also promotes the donation into the fund for Alzheimer’s research which may someday provide a breakthrough for the treatment and new findings in to key to unlock the disease.

Alzheimer`s Ghana joined Mrs Adih, President of the Board in Celebrating her Mum`s 80^th Birthday on 17^th May.

We used this occasion to interact with Nana Oye Lithur, Ministers for Gender Children and Social Protection and Mrs Qweenstar Pokuah Sawyerr, Deputy Minister for Central Region, who were present and also engaged some prominent men who were also present to support and donate towards Alzheimer`s Ghana activities.

Alzheimer`s Ghana in collaboration with Vision Allied Health Institute in Maryland, USA organised a (2) day training programme for Doctors, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Health Workers and Workers NGOs in the Health Sector on 13th-14th May 2014. The programme was a success. In pictures; (Demonstration of resuscitating a chocking dementia patient.)

In line with our strategic action plan of creating Awareness and Advocacy, Alzheimer`s Ghana participated in a collaborative programme with the Ministry of Children Gender and Social Protection to sensitize people from age 55 and above on dementia. This followed an invitation from the Minister whose Ministry is also undertaking free biometric registration (NHIS card for old people aged 55 and above). Alzheimer`s Ghana awareness creation team delivered talks to the recipients on Dementia, causes, Signs and Symptoms, available Therapies and Care for people with Dementia. The team participated in the joint programme at Ashaiman on Saturday the 24th of May, Nungua on Saturday, 7^th of June and Korle-Bu on Saturday the 14^th of June 2014. Each programme covered about 500 old people from the various communities. Response had been positive as questions were asked about the disease and its implication on families. The volume of calls received daily on our 24hour helpline has so far increased putting pressure on our committed team of volunteers. The Minister was very excited but pointed out that the Government has a serious economic problem at the moment. She has however pledged her future financial support for Alzheimer`s Ghana.

 

Our next trip will be on Saturday 21^st of June at Agona East in the Central Region where we have been invited by the Regional Minister to undertake the same educational programme on Dementia to about 500 elderly people. Here are some of the pictures.

AWARENESS TRIP TO ASHAIMAN IN THE GREATER ACCRA REGION ONTHE 24^th MAY 2014

 

AWARENESS TRIP TO NUNGUA IN ACCRA IN THE GREATER ACCRA REGION ON THE 24^th MAY 2014

TRIP TO KORLE-BU IN ACCRA ON THE 14^TH JUNE 2014

 

In pursuit of our strategic goal of education on Dementia, Alzheimer`s Ghana organized a lecture on dementia on the 10<sup>th</sup> of June 2014 at Narh-Bita Hospital, Tema for Doctors, Nurses, Nursing Students and some elderly people. Dr K. Menyah, a Ghanaian born Geriatrician resident in the Illinois, USA who is also now a volunteer of Alzheimer`s Ghana was the resource person for the programme. Ghana Radio FM called Obonu and a Television Station called TV3 were present to cover the lecture followed by an interview with Alzheimer`s Ghana.

TV3

In pursuit of our broad strategy on Dementia Awareness Creation, strong relationship with the media, Venance and Esther were invited for a short interview on TV3 Television Programme on 5^th of June 2014 which was a live broadcast.

Discussion was centred on dementia, its causes, signs and symptoms, its prevalence in Ghana. It also touched the effect of the disease on families, the infrastructure capacity of the country to deal with the problems and Government`s readiness to collaborate to manage the situation in Ghana. The programme was a success as it gave Alzheimer`s Ghana a very wide coverage to dementia awareness message to every corner of the country.

 

Obonu FM

Also in participated in a radio interview and call in programme on Ghanaian radio station called Obonu FM in Tema on 7^th May 2014. The awareness programme was centred on the bad treatment (abuse) to victims of Dementia and Alzheimer`s Disease and our work as an NGO in creating awareness sensitizing the public on the need to recognize dementia a disease condition that needs good care and management.

 

 

Our 2^nd Board Meeting, the highest meeting of the organization, was held on 16^th May 2014 which saw previous direction and activities of the organisation reviewed and new direction agreed . Also significant was the election of the President of the Board namely Mrs Yvonne Adih and The Vice President Dr Dennis Bortey.