Dementia is not a result of the normal aging process. According to the Geriatric Consultant of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, it is a type of disease that affects the cognitive function of the brain which can affect the memory, thinking, behaviour and emotions of the individual. In an interview during the Community Screening Program for Dementia at the Senior Citizens Activity Centre in Lambak Kanan, the President of Dementia Brunei urges that if a person knows he is suffering from the warning signs of dementia, he should go to a nearby hospital or clinic to get early treatment or an immediate diagnosis. The programme was organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dementia Brunei, a non-government organisation, NGO, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, 21st September morning.
Over one thousand 5 hundred Dementia cases were reported in Brunei Darussalam in 2019 and it is expected to increase by 2050. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dementia Brunei, a non-government organisation, NGO, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, organised the Community Screening Program for Dementia. It was held at the Senior Citizens Activity Centre in Lambak Kanan.
The screening programme included a talk on dementia, health check-ups and question-and-answer sessions. The ‘Lancet Publication on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019’, it is estimated that over 1,500 Dementia cases were reported in Brunei Darussalam in 2019 and it is expected to increase by 2050. Doctor Teo Shyh Poh explained that the programme, is hoped to raise the public’s awareness specifically on the warning signs of dementia. He added that the programme will be extended to the other districts and in conjunction with World Dementia Month, there will be a talk on Dementia Care Skills which will teach family members on the care of dementia patients.
Source: Radio Television Brunei