March was anticipated to be the busiest time of 2020 for the Turkish Alzheimer Association, with three major events planned.
The Annual Branch Meeting was scheduled for 13-14 March, in Mersin. All 15 branches of the Association, plus a new one under development, were scheduled to gather together to exchange information on the past year’s activities, to discuss plans and opinions for the coming year, and to vote on the National Dementia Strategy, which is currently in its final draft stage. When the first case of COVID-19 was announced by the Turkish Ministry of Health on 12 March, the meeting was immediately cancelled. Members, some of whom were already on their way to the city of Mersin, were notified and recalled.
The 10 Annual Alzheimer Conference, a scientific conference held every year targeting professionals working in the field of dementia, was scheduled to take place on 24-28 March in Eskişehir. Unsurprisingly, this conference has also been postponed, provisionally until 24-28 June. Last, but not least, the General Assembly of the Association, which is normally carried out biennially in March, was also cancelled. Delegates had been invited to participate in the General Assembly on 31 March , but this also had to be postponed as part of the measures taken in Turkey to restrict the gathering of individuals, in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
On 16 March, the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs issued an additional circular which was delivered to 81 provincial governorships, whereby all meetings and activities, including general assembly meetings and trainings of non-governmental organisations such as associations and foundations, were temporarily postponed as from 17 March 2020 at midnight.
Along with the rest of the world, the Turkish Alzheimer Association remains uncertain as to when life will return to some semblance of “normality”. So far, the Association remains functioning with the same Board for an indefinite period of time, staying connected with its branches, ADI and Alzheimer Europe using digital tools. Although the day care centres are closed, staff continue to provide consultancy and counselling over the telephone, mail, WhatsApp, etc. and advice, tips, cheering messages, home entertainment and exercise posts are continuously published on social media and the web site of the Association.
