By Racheal Abujah/ Chelsea Isa/Joy Akanu
Some stakeholders have called for a community-led approach to addressing dementia in Nigeria, stressing the need for greater awareness, early detection, caregiver support and stronger primary healthcare capacity.
They made the call at a stakeholders’ engagement on dementia and brain health in Abuja.
Researchers, policymakers, health professionals and civil society groups discussed strategies for improving prevention, care and support for people living with dementia.
Speaking at the event, Dr Laz Eze, Africa FINGERS Co-Lead and Policy Advocacy and Strategic Communications (PASC) Coordinator, quoted findings from the Sensitise, Education and Evaluate Dementia (SEED) study.
According to him, the study revealed significant gaps in dementia knowledge among primary healthcare workers.
Eze said the study, conducted by the Institute for Neurological and Brain Health Research, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences(DUFUHS), involved 124 healthcare workers, including community health extension workers and nurses.
He said that many respondents believed dementia was a normal part of ageing, while only four per cent reported knowing how to conduct cognitive screening assessments.
“People can not seek help for a condition they do not understand. Communities need to know that dementia is not a normal aspect of ageing and that early intervention can improve quality of life,” he said.
He stressed the need for sustained community education campaigns to reduce stigma, improve dementia literacy and encourage families to seek medical attention when symptoms are identified.
He also called for increased support for caregivers, noting that many family members experience emotional, social and economic challenges while caring for relatives living with dementia.
Eze advocated greater investment in research, improved diagnostic services and the development of a National Dementia Plan to guide coordinated action across the country.
Also speaking, Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh, Africa FINGERS Chief Investigator, said communities must be at the centre of efforts to promote brain health, build resilience and support healthy ageing.
According to Udeh-Momoh, government agencies, civil society organisations, healthcare providers, researchers and the media all have important roles to play in ensuring that evidence-based information on brain health reaches communities.
“We need to work with government, organisations and the media because the media can support advocacy and help us reach wider audiences with information on evidence-based factors that promote brain health and resilience.
“We must solve this problem together through collaboration, engagement and shared responsibility,” she said.
She said increased community awareness could help reduce stigma surrounding dementia, encourage early care-seeking behaviour and improve support for affected families.
Dr Tunde Ojo, National Coordinator, National Mental Health Programme, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said dementia and brain health issues were receiving increasing attention within ongoing mental health reforms.
Ojo said the Federal Government was implementing the National Mental Health Act and exploring opportunities to strengthen dementia care and community-based support services.
He said that effective responses would require collaboration among government institutions, healthcare providers, researchers, civil society organisations and local communities.
According to him, community participation remains essential to improving awareness, reducing stigma and ensuring that people living with dementia receive timely care and support.
On policy and legislative action, Dr Tordue Nyitse, Clerk, National Assembly Committee on Specialty Healthcare, assured stakeholders of support for initiatives aimed at strengthening dementia and brain health policies in Nigeria.
Nyitse said the National Assembly was willing to engage stakeholders and explore pathways for translating advocacy efforts into practical legislative and institutional actions.
He stressed the need to move beyond policy discussions to concrete measures that would strengthen research, service delivery and community-based support systems for people living with dementia and other mental health conditions.
The stakeholders agreed that empowering communities with accurate information, strengthening primary healthcare capacity and building strong policy frameworks would be critical to improving dementia outcomes and promoting healthy ageing in Nigeria. (NAN((www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman