World Alzheimer's Day 2001
Around the world on Alzheimer's Day - 21 September
Many Alzheimer associations used the theme diagnosing dementia as a focus for their activities. The Alzheimer's Foundation of Malaysia launched the first diagnostic clinic in Kuala Lumpur. The clinic was launched in response to people contacting the foundation after they had seen their GPs with concerns about their memory but were told it was just a normal part of ageing. The Asociacion Dominicana de Alzheimer trained 30 medical students to administer Mini Mental State Examinations. The students were placed in locations throughout the city and examined 1018 people, referring anyone with a low score to a specialist.
Several members used the theme as the basis of a national media campaign. These included the Alzheimer associations in Finland, Colombia, Namibia, France, Cuba, Tanzania, the Netherlands, Hungary, China, Greece, Darling Downs and South West Australia, Panama and Chinese Taipei).
Other Alzheimer associations (including Brazil, El Salvador, Cyprus, Indonesia, Scotland, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Korea, India, Costa Rica) organised seminars and symposiums on World Alzheimer's Day to raise awareness on the importance of diagnosis to carers, doctors and other professionals.
Many members take World Alzheimer's Day onto the street by co-ordinating leafleting campaigns and information stand such as in Japan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Peru and Uruguay.
As well as the Germany, other members also organised a Memory Walk to raise funds for their Alzheimer association including the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Kottayam in India. Fundraising tea and coffee mornings were hosted around Canada, Scotland and the UK.
Do contact the Alzheimer association in your country to find more information. Perhaps you would like to volunteer your help for next year's World Alzheimer's Day.
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