Support Group Formed to Help Alzheimer's...
Added On : 2nd June 2009
Support Group Formed to Help Alzheimers Patients RIYADH: The Saudi Alzheimers Association (SAA) was formed in Riyadh on Sunday with the support of Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmed.
Inaugurating the new organization, Prince Ahmed said it is a good initiative geared to helping the Kingdoms elderly.
He pointed out that such charitable organizations function successfully in the Kingdom with the support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Abdullah and philanthropists from all parts of the Kingdom.
Stressing the need for endowments to support the smooth functioning of charitable organizations, Prince Ahmed called for similar voluntary organizations to cater for patients who suffer from chronic ailments such as diabetes and renal diseases.
Prince Ahmed, who was appointed SAAs honorary president, said the organization should gradually extend its services to other countries in the region. The prince also hoped the new organization would exert efforts to fight the disease and look after people who suffer from Alzheimers.
Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said the Kingdom has drawn up a comprehensive health care program for Saudis as well as expatriates. Social Affairs Minister Yousuf Al-Othaimeen also spoke on the occasion and commended the initiative to help the Kingdoms aging population.
In his opening address, Prince Saud bin Khaled, chairman of the associations board of directors, pointed out that there has been a need to establish such an organization following the steady increase in the number of people who have Alzheimers disease. He added that studies confirm that the number will rise four times more by 2050.
Scientists have learned a great deal about the illness in the century since Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German physician, first described the brain disorder in 1906.
As many as 26 million people around the world have Alzheimers disease. It destroys brain cells, affecting peoples memory, thinking and behavior, and is severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies and social lives. The disease gets worse over time and is fatal.
In Saudi Arabia, there is a complete lack of information pertaining to estimates of current prevalence and cost of care as well as other aspects of the disease, such as care settings, treatment, detection, diagnosis and the current understanding of the disease.
A statement issued on the occasion said the group aims to spread throughout the country the message that Alzheimers is a disease and not part of aging. People with Alzheimers disease must be respected by the community. Care-management will be a serious issue in a foreseeable future as the number of people with the disease is rising rapidly. Therefore, there is a need to address countrywide planning, he said.
Mohammed Rasooldeen - Arab News
