On 29 May 2017 “Global Plan of Action on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017- 2025” was unanimously adopted by 194 countries of WHO during the 70th World Health Assembly (WHA 70) in Geneva Switzerland.
Outline of the Global Action Plan
The plan supports the urgent message that countries need to develop practical and ambitious national strategies. Alzheimer Europe (AE) and people living with dementia were consulted on the development of the plan, which includes a set of seven global targets:
- Dementia as a public health priority
- Dementia Awareness and Friendliness
- Dementia risk reduction
- Dementia diagnosis, treatment, care and support
- Support for dementia carers
- Information systems for dementia
- Dementia research and innovation.
The plan calls on all governments to meet these targets. Currently it is estimated that 8.7 million people live with dementia in Europe and that world-wide 47.5 people live with dementia. It is a major cause of disability and dependency among older people world-wide and with the ageing demographic this figure is expected to increase further.
The plan acknowledges that dementia is not a normal part of ageing and that governments should act now.
Further Information
More information on the WHO's actions on dementia can be found at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/global-action-plan-on-the-public-health-response-to-dementia-2017---2025