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   Countries urged to make dementia public health priority as UN conference opens   
   in Geneva   
      
      
   Dementia can affect you and me. Photo: WHO/P. Virot   
      
        
      
   16 March 2015 - The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today   
   opened the first ever Ministerial Conference on Global Action Against Dementia   
   by reminding health ministers from around the world, experts and civil society   
   representatives that    
   every four seconds someone is diagnosed with the incurable disease.   
      
   "The aim of the conference is to raise awareness of the socio-economic burden   
   created by dementia, and to highlight that this burden can be reduced if the   
   world collectively commits to placing dementia high on the global public   
   health agenda," WHO said    
   in its announcement of the two-day conference that is being held at its   
   headquarters in Geneva.   
      
   The first day of the conference tackled problems ranging from research to care   
   and human rights posed by dementia, which affects some 47 million worldwide, a   
   number that is expected to nearly triple by 2050.   
      
   The UN independent expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older   
   persons, Rosa Kornfeld-Matte, in a special intervention on the human rights   
   aspects of the disease, said persons with dementia must have their dignity,   
   beliefs, needs and privacy    
   respected at all stages of the disease. She urged governments worldwide to   
   effectively integrate a human rights-based approach to their global action   
   against dementia.   
      
   "Persons with dementia, including older persons with this disease, should be   
   able to enjoy their rights and freedoms in any circumstances," said Ms.   
   Kornfeld-Matte, whose mandate comes directly from the UN Human Rights Council.   
      
   Dementia - A pubic health priority   
      
      
   What are the symptoms?   
      
      
      
      
      
   Who is affected? What does it cost?   
      
      
      
      
   What are the challenges?   
      
      
      
      
   What can help people with dementia?   
      
      
      
      
   Global action against dementia - What we must do   
      
      
      
   "I call on all States and other stakeholders to effectively adopt a human   
   rights-based approach when addressing dementia," she said.   
      
   WHO risk communications expert Gaya Gamhewage, who moderated one of five   
   panels today, asked the audience to count to four.   
      
   "One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, one thousand four,"   
   Dr. Gamhewage counted out loud and said in that amount of time, "Another   
   person was diagnosed with dementia."   
      
   According to WHO, dementia is "a syndrome that affects memory, thinking,   
   behaviour and ability to perform everyday activities - usually of a chronic or   
   progressive nature. Dementia is overwhelming not only for the people who have   
   it, but also for their    
   caregivers and families. There is a lack of awareness and understanding of   
   dementia in most countries, resulting in stigmatization and barriers to   
   diagnosis and care."   
      
   Dementia is caused by a variety of diseases and injuries that primarily or   
   secondarily affect the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke, and there   
   is no treatment currently available to cure dementia or to alter its   
   progressive course.   
      
   Two people living with dementia, Hilary Doxford, who did not get a diagnosis   
   for seven years, and Michael Ellenbogen, who had already lost his job by the   
   time he received his diagnosis, appealed to governments about the need for   
   earlier and correct    
   diagnoses.   
      
   Ms. Doxford and Mr. Ellenbogen were joined by Sona Bari, who was a caregiver   
   for her mother who has dementia, in raising the urgent need for governments to   
   think long term and make dementia a public health priority.   
      
   Tomorrow, the conference will focus on how "to collectively move the global   
   dementia agenda forward."   
      
   News Tracker: past stories on this issue   
   Ahead of Alzheimer's Day, UN expert urges greater protections for people with   
   dementia   
      
      
      
   http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50339#.VQv5kHMo7qA   
      
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