Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will soon begin ward-level mass screenings to identify geriatric and dementia patients among senior citizens in the City, said Mayor Sulochana Das at a state-level event on the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day here Sunday.
On the occasion, Das launched the ‘Dementia-Free Odisha 2036’ campaign and inaugurated the Odisha Outreach Office of the Dementia India Alliance (DIA) Bangalore here.
The state-level event was organised by the Dementia Care Odisha Chapter,a joint initiative of DIA, Bangalore, and local organisation SWORD Bhubaneswar.
Also Read: City’s stray dog census starts September 17
Addressing over 200 senior citizens, Das emphasised the importance of early detection and inclusive healthcare for the elderly.
The campaign aims to make Odisha a model state for dementia care by 2036, starting with the Capital city.
Keynote address was delivered by Prafulla Kumar Dhal, who said, “Over 89 per cent of senior citizens in Odisha are geriatric-affected, with over 7 lakh people currently living with dementia. Bhubaneswar alone has more than 20,000 dementia patients.”
He stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive support system and medical care ecosystem in the state.
Former chief secretary BK Pattanaik attended as chief patron of the campaign, unveiled the official campaign poster and urged the government to establish a Neuroscience Resource Centre in Bhubaneswar.
PNN