Dementia included in draft WHO programme of work

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The explicit mention of dementia has been included in the World Health Organization (WHO) draft 13th General programme of work 2019-2023 following support from Member States and civil society at the 142nd Session of the WHO Executive Board in Geneva.

Representatives of ADI attended the meeting, where a statement supported by Dementia Alliance International (DAI) expressed concern at the omission of dementia following the landmark adoption of a Global plan on dementia and the development of the WHO Global Dementia Observatory in 2017. Attention to dementia was also requested in statements made by Member State representatives from Argentina, Chile, Japan, Portugal and the UK.

The draft programme of work outlines the priorities of the WHO for the next five-year period starting in 2019. It is expected to be approved at the meeting of the World Health Assembly, the gathering of all Member States of the WHO, in May 2018.