Officials from international organizations, including the World Health Organization and Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), praised Korea’s effort to raise awareness of dementia and treat the disease, at a conference in Seoul Thursday.

ADI CEO Paola Barbarino explains global efforts to raise dementia awareness during the International Conference on Global and National Strategies against Dementia held in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Innovation Park in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday.

“The Republic of Korea is doing so much to take care of dementia patients,” ADI President Paola Barbarino said at the International Conference on Global and National Strategies against Dementia. “Korea’s innovations include its third national dementia plan, dementia awareness education programs, and dementia-free index.”

The ADI head talked about the WHO’s “plans on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025,” saying it visions a world in which dementia can be prevented, and people with dementia and their caregivers can live well and receive the care and supports the need to fulfill their potential with dignity, respect, autonomy, and equality.

To make this happen WHO intends to improve the life of people with dementia, their caregivers and families while decreasing the negative impact of the disease on them as well as on communities and countries.

“Korea’s effort is in line with the WHO’s Global Dementia Action Plan, which includes raising awareness and education, reducing risk, providing a timely diagnosis and access to treatment,” she added.

In this regards, Barbarino urged Korea to share its platforms and plans with the rest of the world.

“I urge Korea to become its advocate for its dementia patients and actively discuss and pass on knowledge regarding dementia policies,” she said. “You are leading us all in treating dementia, and we need Korea you to tell the world if you want to do it you can do it.”

Tarun Dua, program manager for the department of mental health and substance abuse at the WHO, also agreed that Korea’s effort to treat dementia is globally renowned.

Tarun Dua, WHO’s program manager for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, emphasizes the importance of exchanging dementia knowledge between countries, during the International Conference on Global and National Strategies against Dementia held in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Innovation Park in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday.

“Korea is doing well in making dementia a public health priority such as making policies and legislation for dementia and setting up a dementia task force,” Dua said. “The country is one of the few countries that currently have a national plan for dementia.”

The WHO always asks more for member states to do more to help dementia patients, she added.

Dua stressed that such support includes additional funding for research into the disease, providing better care for people with dementia and reducing the disease burden and costs, and share knowledge of practices through a knowledge exchange platform.

Korean officials participating in the conference agreed to share its knowledge with the global community.

“The country, from now on, plans to actively participate in the global effort to share platforms and ideas on treating dementia, while also taking in any platforms from foreign countries that may be of help in Korea,” Korea Dementia Association President Kim Seung-hyun said.

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