Dementia Research Centre inaugurated in Mayo hospital

Punjab Health Minister Saleema Hashmi has stressed the need of formulation of a consolidated policy at provincial as well as national level to cater the problems of old people and to evolve a system for looking after the senior citizens.
As the joint family system in Pakistan gradually becoming weak, the social as well as health problems of aged people are increased, minister said, while addressing the inaugural ceremony of Dementia Research Centre at the Psychiatry Department in Mayo Hospital here on Thursday.
The Head of Psychiatry Department, Professor Dr Aftab Asif, Associate Professor Dr Ali Hashmi, Pattern Alzheimer Society of Pakistan, Professor Yasmeen Rashid, a number of doctors and student attended the ceremony. While addressing the function Professor Aftab said, "It is the prime responsibility of youngsters to look after their old parents."
He said that the expectancy of age in Pakistan was increasing and side by side the diseases of Dementia and Alzheimer were also increased in old people. He said that these diseases start from the loss of memory and aggravate day by day and the patient could not do their daily affairs efficiently which increased his problems manifold. At this point Professor Aftab emphasised the importance of the role of other family members for taking care of their elders.
He said that establishment of Dementia Centre in Mayo Hospital would help resolve the problems of Dementia and Alzheimer patients. Saleema said that it was the need of the time to create awareness among the masses regarding these diseases so that people could understand the problems of their old parents and to help them properly. Patron of Alzheimer's Pakistan, Professor Yasmeen Rashid informed that the society had established a Day Care Centre in Johar Town for such patients. She said that the establishment of Dementia Research Centre in Mayo Hospital is a positive step which would prove helpful to solve the social problems and to provide treatment facilities to the patients of Dementia and Alzheimer.