Public Awareness and Media Campaign – ‘Dementia Friends Initiative’
AFfIH’s main programme revolves around partnering with media houses/groups and other public awareness avenues to:
bring awareness of dementia to the pub-lic, the context of dementia in our popu-lation and the society’s responsibility to care for people living with dementia and other mental health challenges;
invite people to register for the dementia training programme; and
advocate for dementia-friendly policies and communities.
Bespoke workshops and training organized for people drawn from diverse sector/groups – health [doctors, nurses, principals of nursing school, and care home providers], leaders from faith-based organizations / community / women groups / social groups, media personalities, carers of people living with dementia, work-place managers, and government officials. The training is at 3 levels – Dementia Pals, Buddies and Advocates
where people in communities can lead people living with de-mentia who have lost touch with family mem-bers. Key individuals resident in the areas will be trained on how to establish the identity of persons living with dementia on first encoun-ter. Where they are unable to do so, a referral is made to the Dementia Support and Engage-ment Centre in Eket, Akwa Ibom State. Initially health centres and churches will be adopted as initial refuge points for people living with de-mentia. This activity will be linked to health care programmes.
AFfIH will work with the State Government to ensure appropriate regulation of practice con-cerning the care of people living with demen-tia. It is pertinent that the right standards are put in place to ensure good quality care for our older people. Therefore all care facilities must be inspected and registered. AFfIH will design a certification programme to aid this process.