The general public has been encouraged to take part in the world’s largest survey on attitudes around dementia by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) on social media. Qatar is participating in the survey led by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and invited the public to share their thoughts and knowledge.
The survey seeks feedback from four key groups including general public, health and care professionals, people living with dementia and carers of such people, in an attempt to create the world’s biggest survey on attitudes around dementia. The questions are predominantly multiple choice and the survey is fully anonymous, accessible and available both online and offline in multiple languages, including Arabic.
The survey, which is currently available on the ADI website , will form the basis of ADI’s World Alzheimer Report 2019, to be released during World Alzheimer Month in September. The survey will be open until June 14.
The Qatar National Dementia Plan (2018-2022) has been implemented in Qatar to improve the quality of dementia care in the country.
The plan sets out seven action areas addressing sections of dementia care which will have an impact on improving the quality of care, in line with the Qatar National Health Strategy (2018-2022). The action areas focus on making dementia a public health priority by encouraging dementia awareness and support, improving dementia diagnosis, treatment, care and support, promoting risk reduction, developing information systems for dementia, developing support for carers and supporting research and innovation into the disease.
Dr Hanadi Al Hamad, National Lead for ‘Healthy Ageing’ NHS 2018-2022 priority population, and Chairperson of Geriatrics and Long Term Care Department at HMC earlier, said, “The Qatar National Dementia Plan was born out of the recognition that, unless addressed, the human and economic costs related to the condition will rise at an accelerated pace, highlighting the need to keep dementia as a public health priority in the country.”
According to the United Nations, around 50 million people have dementia in the world. In Qatar, more than 4,400 people over 60 years of age may have dementia. This figure is expected to rise ten-fold to more than 41,000 people by 2050 if no cure or improved prevention takes in place. In 2017, HMC has recorded at least 900 dementia diagnosis.
