The Silver-Cross Hospitals and Foundation, Abuja, in partnership with NaidCARE, has offered free medical screening to elderly residents of the Federal Capital Territory as part of activities marking the 2025 World Alzheimer’s Day.
The exercise, held at the Arts and Culture Complex, Area 10, Abuja, also featured the donation of special drugs to 200 elderly persons. Other partners included the National Orientation Agency and the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN).
Chief Executive Officer of Silver-Cross Hospitals and Foundation, Dr. Patrick Ezie, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the initiative was aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and promoting Universal Health Coverage.
“Not everybody can make it to the hospital, but we try our best to reach people in difficult areas. We provide care, educate them about health challenges, and support them with palliatives to reduce their burden. Today, we are marking World Alzheimer’s Day by providing services such as eye, ear, dental, and general consultations. Our team of experts and nurses are attending to about 200 elderly people aged 65 and above, who often face multiple health challenges,” Ezie said.
He added that Alzheimer’s disease remains poorly understood in Nigeria due to low awareness. Describing it as a degenerative brain condition that affects memory and behaviour, he noted that symptoms are often misinterpreted as witchcraft or spiritual issues, which fuels stigmatisation.
“Some elderly people develop brain-related problems in old age without knowing it is Alzheimer’s. Stigmatisation worsens their condition, so we are appealing to the public to show more care and compassion,” he stressed.
National Coordinator of COSROPIN, Eze Ajoku, called for the creation of special care units where the elderly could access counselling and preferential treatment. He also urged government and private stakeholders to intensify advocacy programmes to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease.
Similarly, Dr. Olubanjo Akerele, Consultant Family Physician and Medical Team Lead at NaidCARE, praised the turnout and the quality of services provided. He emphasised that avoiding stigmatisation and promoting respect for the elderly should be seen as a shared responsibility.
The event combined medical checks with sensitisation, distribution of health information materials, and interactive sessions with the elderly and their caregivers.
World Alzheimer’s Day is observed globally on September 21 each year to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and challenge the stigma associated with dementia-related conditions.
