About us

Who we are

Affiong Etuk Foundation for Inclusive Health (AFfIH)

AFfIH works to promote inclusive health and care services through developing dementia friendly communities in Nigeria.

AFfIH demands a better life for people affected by all forms of dementia. We campaign for their rights and that of their carers through detailed policy analysis, lobbying and direct action.

DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME IN NIGERIA

What is Dementia?

Dementia is not a specific disease. It’s an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.

Dementia is often incorrectly referred to as “senility” or “senile dementia,” which reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect belief that serious mental decline is a normal part of aging.

Dementia Friendly Communities Programme seeks to improve the lives of people living with dementia by raising awareness and promoting understanding of dementia among the general public and health professionals; ensuring that more people receive the diagnosis and full support afterward; helping to develop dementia-friendly facilities in communities; and providing expertise, focus, and momentum in developing an inclusive agenda for advancing local action and engagement towards improving care for people with dementia.

Useful link for more information on dementia:

Alzheimer’s Association http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp

Why is the programme important?

People with dementia have a right to proper diagnosis, effective treatment, and full support afterward. While it’s very common, dementia is not very well understood in most developing countries. Individuals with dementia and their families often do not ask for help because there is still a stigma attached. Or as wrongly perceived by many – the symptoms are a normal part of aging, and nothing can be done.

Cases abound of wrong/late diagnosis and poor support after diagnosis. To get across the message that people living with dementia can be helped, we’re raising awareness both with the general public, health professionals, and with key decision makers in Nigeria towards ensuring that people with dementia receive proper diagnosis, sustained support and live in safe communities together with their families/carers.