The theme for World Alzheimer's Month 2012 is 'Dementia: Living together'.
Alzheimer associations across the world will focus their activities on reducing the stigma associated with dementia and making communities more dementia-friendly by offering a range of programmes and events.
The SInt Maarten Alzheimer Foundation one of the newest members of Alzheimer Disease International also will have activities during the whole month of September.
TV EPISODES DEMENTIA CONFERENCE
On the local cable tv stations episodes from the recently held one day Dementia Conference will be aired. The episodes can be seen during the month of September on every Monday evening on WTN Cable TV 10 at 20.20 pm immediately after the news with a repeat on Friday evening at the same time. St Maarten Cable TV will also air the episodes for their subscribers which will be announced on their local bulletin board and in subsequent press releases from the SMAF.
Next week the first episode of the conference will air containing the Welcome address from SMAF board member Patricia Pantophlet, the Official Opening Remarks from Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams and the Key note address from the Chairman of Alzheimer Disease International Dr. Jacob Roy Kuriakose.
RADIO AND TV-INTERVIEWS
The local radio and tv-hosts will dedicate some of their programs this month of September to the Alzheimer awareness, with interviews with families in SInt Maarten, to tell us about their experience with the theme of this year "Living with Dementia or Alzheimer's". As every 4 seconds someone in the world is being diagnosed with a form of dementia our society also has to prepare for this epidemic which has already passed the total amount of people in the world affected by HIV-/AIDS.
RADIO AND TV-PUBLIC SERVICE ANOUNCEMENTS
The Rotary Club of SInt Maarten will contribute during this September month in cooperation with all local radio and tv-stations to air public service announcements in support of the awareness campaign from the local Alzheimer's Foundation.
OFFICIAL MEETING WITH PARLIAMENT STANDING COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEALTH
The Sint Maarten Alzheimer Foundation has requested a meeting with the Parliamentary committee on Public Health to address the world wide epidemic of Dementia and its impact on society. Legislation from other countries in the world to protect people with dementia will be presented to parliament so that they don't have to reinvent the wheel.
PRESENTATION ON WORLD ALZHEIMER'S DAY
The Minister of Public Health will receive a presentation and an official copy of the World Alzheimer's Report of 2012 which ADI will release on September 21, World Alzheimer's Day. It will address the topic of stigma.
Every year since 1994, Alzheimer associations across the globe have united on the 21st of September to recognise World Alzheimer's Day. World Alzheimer's Month 2012 will mark the first global month-long campaign and a website dedicated to the Month will be available soon.
DEMENTIA AWARENESS SECONDARY SCHOOL YOUTH PROJECT
This year the students from the secondary schools also will be involved in the Alzheimer Awareness Campaign. They will have to come up with their thoughts and ideas on the theme of this year: "Dementia Living together." More details of the contest for the youth will be detailed in a following press release.
FUNDRAISING
A fundraising dinner will be held at the end of the month of September to close the month of activities and to generate funds for the ongoing activities of the SMAF in support of the people with Dementia and their family caregivers.
