The Nutrition for Better Economy, Gender, Lifestyle and Agricultural Foundation (NEEGLAR) has officially flagged off a comprehensive community and group sensitization initiative aimed at improving the response to Dementia across Ebonyi State.
The campaign was inaugurated during a high-level capacity-building workshop held at Monablis Hotels, Abakaliki. Themed “Dementia in an Ageing World: Early Recognition and Community Support,” the event brought together health workers, government officials, and traditional leaders to address the growing challenges of Nigeria’s ageing population.
A Call for National Coordination
Addressing the participants, the Executive Director of the NEEGLAR Foundation, Mrs. Chinenye Azu Udu, stressed that as Nigeria’s elderly population grows, the lack of a coordinated response to dementia has become a critical issue. She noted that the condition is frequently shrouded in misunderstanding and cultural myths.
“Across Nigeria, dementia remains under-recognised, under-documented, and frequently misunderstood. In many communities, symptoms are attributed to ageing myths rather than clinical conditions,” Mrs. Azu Udu stated. “This gap contributes to delayed diagnosis, increased caregiver burden, and social exclusion of older persons who require support and dignity in their later years.”
Strengthening Primary Healthcare
A central goal of the initiative is to empower frontline health workers to identify early warning signs. Mrs. Azu Udu emphasized that because primary healthcare workers are the first point of contact for families, their ability to provide clinical guidance is vital to strengthening the entire health response chain.
The workshop also focused on establishing clearer referral pathways and improving caregiver education to ensure that affected individuals are moved from community observation to professional medical support seamlessly.
The Role of Nutrition and Clinical Awareness
The technical sessions highlighted the preventable and manageable aspects of cognitive decline. Dr. Cyril Ogbonna, a nutritionist, presented a paper on “Nutrition for Brain Health,” noting that the brain consumes approximately 20% of the body’s energy. He warned that while poor nutrition can accelerate brain ageing, targeted dietary habits can protect neurons.
Dr. David Nweke of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA) lamented that ignorance has led many communities to attribute dementia symptoms to spiritual forces or evil doing. He called for aggressive awareness campaigns to de-stigmatize the condition and focus on clinical management.
Data-Driven Solutions and Sustainability
The project’s research lead in Ebonyi State, Kelechi Eluigwe, explained that the foundation is moving beyond simple training by building a sustainable system backed by data.
“The programme incorporates a research component to generate reliable data on dementia awareness and diagnosis patterns,” Eluigwe noted. “Pre- and post-training assessments will evaluate effectiveness and guide future scale-up across additional Local Government Areas.”
Government and Stakeholder Support
The event received strong backing from the Ebonyi State Government. The State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Ikeuwa Omebe (represented by Mr. Anya Nkama), delivered a goodwill message alongside the Ebonyi State CAN Chairman and various traditional rulers.
The training session was attended by Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs), Community Development Officers (CDOs), and various health stakeholders, all tasked with enhancing grassroots understanding of dementia to ensure no elderly citizen is left behind.
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