i
Nepal Report on
World Alzheimer’s Month
September 2013
Nepal Report on World Alzheimer’s Month September 2013
Published jointly by:
ARDS Nepal, NASCIF and Ageing Nepal
Photo credit: ARDS Nepal and Ageing Nepal
ii
FOREWORD
The world is ageing faster than ever before. Dementia is most prevalent among
60+ populations but the number of younger patients is also increasing.
Therefore, dementia patients are increasing at faster rate than the increase in
number of older persons.
Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is one of the fastest growing public
health challenges facing our generation. Today, there are over 35 million people
with dementia and this number is expected to double by 2030 and more than
triple by 2050 to 115 million. Some developed nations have already formulated
special provisions to care Dementia, while developing countries like Nepal are at
the preliminary process of 'awareness building". Alzheimer’s disease and other
forms of dementia must be made a priority national health concern and better
sooner before it becomes a pandemic.
The number of organizations and individuals participating in observance of World
Alzheimer's Day in Nepal has been ever increasing. Alzheimer and Related
Dementia Society (ARDS) Nepal in collaboration with National Senior Citizens’
Federation (NASCIF) and Ageing Nepal implemented various awareness building
program involving many other organizations and individuals. The observance
lasted for the entire month of September 2013. We are thankful to all
participating organizations and individuals who made this World Alzheimer Month
full of meaningful events.
This report summarizes the activities undertaken in commemoration of the IInd
World Alzheimer’s Month. We believe that the concerned social workers, health
professionals, researchers, policy makers and development practitioners will find
this report a valuable reference. We are thankful to all members of ARDS Nepal,
NASCIF and Ageing Nepal for making the World Alzheimer Month a great success
in Nepal. We are highly indebted to all organizations and individuals who actively
participated in our programs.
We take this opportunity to thank Mr. Aashish T. Magar, Program Officer of
Ageing Nepal and his team for the hard work in preparing this report.
Krishna M. Gautam
Founder Chairperson Ageing Nepal
Dr. Gauri Shanker Lal Das Chairperson
Alzheimer and Related Dementia Society (ARDS) Nepal
iii
ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS
AN Ageing Nepal
ARDS Nepal Alzheimer and Related Dementia Society Nepal
FM Frequency Module
NASCIF National Senior Citizens’ Federation
NGO Non Governmental Organization
TV Television
VoSC Voice of Senior Citizens
WAD World Alzheimer’s Day
WAM World Alzheimer’s Month
WHO World Health Organization
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Face-sheet
Foreword
Abbreviations/Acronyms
Introduction
Activities
Major achievements
Annex
Page 1 of 17
INTORDUCTION
World Alzheimer's Day (WAD), September 21st of each year, is a
day on which Alzheimer's organizations around the world
concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer's
and Dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of
dementia. It is a neurological brain disorder named after a German
physician, Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906.
World Alzheimer’s Day is observed all over the world. The date was
set aside by World Health Organization (WHO) in 1994 to bring
attention to a shocking disease that has affected the entire world
and has become a major global health issue, particularly for the
elderly population. Alzheimer associations across the world focus
their activities on reducing the stigma associated with dementia and
making communities more dementia-friendly by offering a range of
programs and events. After observing WAD several times,
inadequacy in sensitization activities was realized by most and a
proposal was put forward to enhance awareness building activities
accordingly. From 2012, world started commemorating WAD
throughout September as World Alzheimer’s Month (WAM).
Alzheimer has not yet become the national health agenda in Nepal,
owing to the lack of awareness about Alzheimer among general
public and health workers alike. However, it is pleasing to note that
more NGOs working on the issues of ageing population are getting
involved in awareness building programs and new organizations are
coming up. Organizations like National Senior Citizens Federation
(NASCIF), Alzheimer and Related Dementia Society (ARDS) Nepal
and Ageing Nepal (AN) has been observing the day with various
awareness building activities since last few years. This year, these
organizations came up together with month long activities to
observe World Alzheimer’s Month. Details of the activities
undertaken in WAM 2013 are presented in the following section of
this report.
Page 2 of 17
ACTIVITIES
National Senior Citizens’ Federation (NASCIF), Alzheimer and
Related Dementia Society (ARDS) Nepal and Ageing Nepal (AN)
together observed 2nd World Alzheimer’s Month (WAM). In order to
attain the objective of the observance, each of these organizations
mobilized the chain of individuals/organizations/institutions in its
network. A working committee was formed with representatives
from all three organizations. Regular meeting was held to discuss
progresses and to make necessary improvements in the action plan.
Following table presents the WAM activities with details:
DATE
DAY
ACTIVITY
DELIVERABLE OUTPUTS
1 Sun Meeting Working committee came up with action plan for
WAM,
Decision made for regular meeting.
2 Mon Article on Alzheimer’s
published in Gorkhatra
daily.
(NOTE: A copy of article is
available in Annex 1).
Gorkhapatra Daily is a state print vernacular daily,
the oldest Nepali language newspapers of Nepal
with estimated daily circulation of thirty thousand.
Arrangement was made for publication of one
article with the message of WAM.
3/4 Tues/Wed Design and collection of
awareness building
materials (banners,
placards, pamphlets,
leaflets and balloons) on
WAM.
2 by 3” banner with central theme “Dementia: A
Journey of Caring” was designed,
Placards with slogans on Alzheimer’s disease were
prepared. Some of the slogans included:
We cannot cure, but we can CARE!
Caring Alzheimer’s patient is difficult, share
the burden!
Don’t hide Alzheimer’s disease!
Alzheimer’s disease is like any other
disease, manage it don’t hide it!
Pamphlet, leaflets and balloons with message on
WAM were collected from ARDS Nepal for mass
awareness. A copy of pamphlet is available in
annex 3.
5 Thu Final print of banner Finalized banner was printed,
5 copies of such banner were printed.
(NOTE: A copy of banner is available in annex 2).
6 Fri Finding of colleges for
lecture programs on WAM
Two colleges named, Kapan Multiple College and
Baluddhara Higher Sec. College of Kapan,
Kathmandu were finalized for orientation.
7
Sat
HOLIDAY
8 Sun Finding of schools/colleges
for lecture programs on
WAM
Herald Int’l College of Narayan Gopal Chwok,
Kathmandu and Jana Kalyan Higher Sec. College
of Kapan, Kathmandu were finalized for
orientation.
Page 3 of 17
9/10 Mon/Tues Preparation of orientation
materials
Meeting with working
committee at ARDS Nepal
Slides was prepared with updated
information/data,
The meeting highlighted the progresses till date
and also the necessary improvements to be made
in the coming days.
11 Wed Orientation on WAM to
undergraduates of Kapan
Multiple College
More than 30 undergraduates were orientated
about Alzheimer’s disease and WAM.
(NOTE: Photos are available in annex 4).
12 Thu Lecture program on
Alzheimer’s disease and
WAM to students of
Baluddhara Higher Sec.
School of Kapan,
Kathmandu
At least 40 students were sensitized about
population ageing, Alzheimer’s disease and WAM.
13 Fri Publication of WAM special
Voice of Senior Citizens
(VoSC)
Voice of Senior Citizens (VoSC) is a monthly e-
newsletter of Ageing Nepal, which is circulated
among 4,500 readers across the globe. Therefore,
it can be presumed that all the readers of VoSC
are reached with the message of WAM.
(NOTE: The newsletter can be accessed from the
given link:
http://www.ageingnepal.org.np/images/vosc_sep2013.pdf )
14
Sat
HOLIDAY
15 Sun Literary program A literary program was organized at the premises
of Ageing Nepal. 30 poets presented their poems
of “Senior Citizens and Dementia”.
(NOTE: Photos are available in annex 5).
Orientation program on
Alzheimer conducted by
ARDS Nepal in
coordination with Ashmi
and Madan Bhandari
Smriti Pratisthan
A total of 72 (40F + 32M) social workers of
Morang district were oriented about Alzheimer,
16 Mon Orientation session
conducted for students of
Herald Int’l College,
Narayan Gopal Chwok,
Kathmandu
50 undergraduates of Herald Int’l College were
oriented about population ageing and WAM.
17 Tues Talk program at Radio
Nepal
Radio Nepal is state radio. According to the survey
conducted by BBC, Radio Nepal has potential to
reach 80% of Nepal’s population. Therefore it can
be presumed that, at least 50% of Nepal’s
population were reached with the message of
WAM.
Interaction program
conducted by NASCIF and
ARDS Nepal at Ithari,
Sunsari
More than 200 people were reached with the
message of WAM.
18 Wed Lecture session to the
students of Jana Kalyan
Higher Secondary School
At least 30 final year higher secondary students
were oriented on population ageing along with the
message of WAM.
Training on Alzheimer
disease by Dr. Nidesh of
A total of 11 organizations including Ashmi
Jivandhara, ARDS Nepal, Madan Bhandari Smriti
Page 4 of 17
ARDS Nepal at Medi-Escort
Hospital of Morang
Pratisthan and Ashmi jointly organized the
training,
A total of 51 health workers were trained on
Alzheimer.
(NOTE: Photos available in annex 6).
19 Thu Preparation of WAM
special “Jyestha Nagarik”
magazine
“Jyestha Nagarik” is a bi-monthly Nepali magazine
of Ageing Nepal. Arrangement was made to make
upcoming issue of the magazine a WAM special
issue. The magazine is set to publish by the end of
September 2013.
20 Fri Meeting Shared progresses and planning for WAD.
21 Sat World Alzheimer’s Day
(WAD)
Street drama on Alzheimer’s disease was
conducted by a professional actor at Peace Park
(Ratna Park), Kathmandu,
Production of a short video of the drama with
English subtitle,
At least 70 participants were reached with the
message on Alzheimer’s disease,
NASCIF, ARDS Nepal, Ashmi, Supports Nepal,
Ageing Nepal including Founding Committee of
Peace Park jointly organized the event.
(NOTE: Glimpses of the event is available in annex
7).
22
Sun
SUBSTITUTE HOLIDAY
23 Mon ARDS Nepal organized
special training program
on Alzheimer to Nursing
students at Shir Memorial
Hospital of Banepa, Kavre
district
A total of 215 students were trained on Alzheimer.
24 Tues A training program was
organized by ARDS Nepal
to the nursing students of
Stupa Health Science
College situated at
Baudha, Kathmandu
A total of 47 nursing students were trained on
Alzheimer. Additionally, these students were also
oriented about WAM.
25 Wed Talk program at
Sagarmatha TV
Sagarmatha TV is a national television which has
capacity to reach at least 50% of Nepal
population. Its programs can also be accessed
online from every corner of the world.
A documentary show and
a training program on
Alzheimer to nursing
students of Little Angels
Health Science College,
Hattiban. The program
was organized by ARDS
Nepal.
A total of 105 students were reached with the
message of WAM and trained on Alzheimer.
26 Thu ARDS Nepal organized
training program on
Alzheimer to the students
of Kathmandu Medical
Nursing College of
39 students were reached with WAM message and
professionally trained on Alzheimer.
Page 5 of 17
Swyambhu, Kathmandu.
The program also included
health trainers.
ARDS Nepal and Ashmi
organized orientation to 8th
grade students of the
Sharada Secondary
School, Kathmandu
77 (37F + 40M) students were reached with the
message of WAM and oriented on Alzheimer
Talk program at Image
Channel
Arrangement was made for one talk program of 30
minutes at National television regarding population
and WAM.
27 Fri Older community leaders
meeting on “Population
Ageing and its related
issue”
A discussion session was organized on “Population
Ageing and its related issue” at the premises of
Ageing Nepal. 15 Older community leaders who
were invited at the meeting expressed their deep
concern towards increasing number of Alzheimer’s
patients in their community.
(NOTE: Photos are available in annex 8).
Publication of an article on
Alzheimer’s disease in The
Rising Nepal
The Rising Nepal is a state print daily, the oldest
English broadsheet of Nepal with daily circulations
of about fifteen thousand. Arrangement was made
for the publication of one article on Alzheimer.
28
Sat
HOLIDAY
29/30 Sun/Mon Report writing
Page 6 of 17
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
30,000 people reached with the message of World
Alzheimer’s Month (WAM) via state print media Gorkhapatra
daily,
15,000 people were reached with important information
regarding Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of Dementia,
80% of Nepal’s population were reached with the
information on WAM through Radio Nepal,
50% of Nepal’s population reached with message of WAM
through Sagarmatha TV,
At least 50% of Nepal’s population reached with important
message regarding Alzheimer disease and WAM via Image
Channel TV,
At least 272 young students were oriented on Alzheimer’s
disease and WAM,
At least 357 social worker/community leaders were reached
with the message on WAM and Alzheimer’s disease,
30 national poets were oriented on Alzheimer’s disease and
WAM,
457 health workers/nursing students received special
training on Alzheimer/Dementia,
4,500 individuals/organizations/institutions across the globe
reached with the message on Alzheimer and WAM through
Voice of Senior Citizens,
At least 2,000 people were reached with message on
Alzheimer’s disease through pamphlets/leaflets/balloons,
2,000 individuals/organizations/institutions were reached
with valuable information regarding Alzheimer’s disease and
WAM through Jyestha Nagarik magazine.
Page 7 of 17
ANNEX
1. Article published in state print media Gorkhapatra daily
Follow the link to read full article:
http://ashishtmagar.wordpress.com/
Page 8 of 17
2. Banner
P
3. Pamphlet prepared by ARDS Nepal
Page 9 of 17
4. Oreintation at Kapan Multiple College
Mr. Bhumidatta Poudel, Research Coordinator of Ageing Nepal giving lecture on
Alzheimer to the students of Kapan Multiple College.
Page 10 of 17
5. Literary program
Participants at Literary program
Chairperson of Ageing Nepal Mr. Krishna M. Gautam speaking about Alzheimer at the
program.
Page 11 of 17
6. Training program for health workers/nursing students
Dr.Ashish Dutta representing ARDS Nepal
facilitating the training session on Alzheimer
Page 12 of 17
HEALTH WORKERS AND NURSING STUDENTS
PARTICIPATING AT THE TRAINING PROGRAM ON
ALZHEIMER ORGANIZED BY ARDS NEPAL.
Page 13 of 17
7. Glimpses of World Alzheimer’s Day (WAD)
Placards on Alzheimer placed at the Peace Park on WAD
Page 14 of 17
Bhumidatta from Ageing Nepal showing awareness building materials (poster and balloon) produced by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI).
Page 15 of 17
Dr. Gauri Shanker Lal Das Chairperson of ARDS Nepal speaking at the
program
Photo session after the program
Page 16 of 17
8. Meeting with community leaders
Leaders at the meeting organized in the premises of Ageing Nepal
Leader showing placard written “DON’T HIDE ALZHEIMER’S
DISEASE!” after the meeting at Ageing Nepal.
Page 17 of 17
9. An art by Ageing Nepal’s volunteer Ms. Rehena Shakya