Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population marked World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September by highlighting services for older people and raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on patients and their families. The ministry provided 15,250 medical services through geriatric psychiatry clinics run by the Central Administration for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment.
The services are available through a network of 24 mental health hospitals and centres across Egypt, according to ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar. He added that the government is prioritizing comprehensive healthcare for older people as part of a strategy to improve quality of life and provide sustainable care.
The ministry organized the event in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Egypt, Eva Pharma, and Alzheimer’s Egypt, with patients and their families attending. Ayman Abbas, head of the Central Administration for Mental Health, said the ministry’s awareness activities focus on Alzheimer’s prevention, the role of caregivers, and the latest approaches to treatment.
The event also highlighted the wider psychological and social impact of Alzheimer’s on families. Osama Abdel-Hay, head of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, praised efforts to support specialized medical fields, particularly geriatric psychiatry and Alzheimer’s care, saying that developing these specialties would help improve healthcare services for the groups concerned.
Tarek Ahmed Okasha, professor of psychiatry at Ain Shams University and chairman of Alzheimer’s Egypt, said the association works with the Central Administration for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment to support patients and their families. He said the administration's work includes healthcare services, awareness campaigns, specialized guidance, caregiver support, and efforts to improve public understanding of the disease.
Mayassa Eid, director of the Geriatric Medicine Department, said scientific lectures held as part of the event addressed the medical and psychological aspects of supporting patients and their families, as well as training medical staff on the latest care protocols. Meanwhile, Bernard Lamy, deputy chief of mission of IOM Egypt, stressed the importance of psychological and social support for individuals and families, particularly caregivers.
The cooperation between the ministry and its partners aims to strengthen health systems and build capacity to address the needs of patients and their families. The event demonstrated Egypt's commitment to improving healthcare services for older people and promoting awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on individuals and families.
Key points
- The Egyptian Ministry of Health provided 15,250 medical services through geriatric psychiatry clinics to mark World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September.
- The services are available through a network of 24 mental health hospitals and centres across Egypt.
- The ministry organized the event in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Egypt, Eva Pharma, and Alzheimer’s Egypt.
