Foundation Commits to Combating Alzheimer, Dementia in Nigeria

Esther Oluku

The Gabi Williams Alzheimer’s Foundation (GWAF) has expressed its commitment to supporting corporate professionals in combating brain-related illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

The Chairperson GWAF, Mrs Abisola Gabi-Williams, pledged the Maiden edition of the Brain Health in the Corporate Structure campaign which was held in Lagos recently.

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain condition which causes memory loss, and continuous regression in cognitive skills and ultimately leads to the inability to carry out basic functions needed for daily living.

Giving her keynote address, Mrs. Abisola Gabi-Williams, noted that as human capital lies at the core of every corporate structure, awareness of brain-related health disorders is critical to providing solutions to brain health problems for professionals and their loved ones.

She stated that low awareness of brain-related health conditions as well as the regimented nature of workplaces in the country do not grant the opportunity for these issues to be addressed.

“One major problem we need to confront is that here in Nigeria people do not recognize the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Our work at GWAF has shown that when confronted with symptoms of Alzheimer’s, many attribute these symptoms to ageing or in some cases demonic possession.

“Without a proper diagnosis, families ensure added suffering unaware of available support services and evolving treatments that can help mitigate their suffering.

“With new treatments like Lecanemab, which can slow down early Alzheimer’s progression by up to 30 per cent, our team at GWAF will do everything in our power to support the Federal Government and healthcare organisations to make these new treatments accessible and affordable in Nigeria.”

On her part, General Manager Leventis Motors, Ms Benita Adelore, speaking on the need to deepen awareness of brain health in workplaces said that organisations must create avenues to sensitize professionals on brain care as well as create support groups and incentives which professionals who may have brain-related illnesses or loved ones with brain-related conditions to find closure.

Founded in 2017 in honour of the late Dr Gabby Williams, a public health pioneer who lived with Alzheimer’s disease for 11 years before his demise, GWAF serves as a platform to commemorate Gabi-Williams own life and his struggles with the Alzheimer’s brain health condition.

A trustee of the Foundation, Ms Adetoun Gabi-Williams, told THISDAY that although GWAF is launching the Brain Health in the Corporate Structure campaign, the concept is a revival of the Health of the Executive Programme pioneered by late Gabi Williams during his professional service as a public health expert with the government.

She further explained that the Foundation hopes to spread the campaign throughout the country with Lagos as its pilot project and that as GWAF continues this campaign, it is willing to partner with corporate organisations for collaborations and sponsorship to ensure that the message of brain health, Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia, get to every Nigerian.