In February 2025, ADI Asia Pacific Regional Director , DY Suharya, attended and supported two crucial cross-sectional meetings in both Malaysia and Maldives. These timely meetings brought researchers, policymakers and medical practitioners together to pave the way for the development of a new National Dementia Plan in Maldives and an important strategic deployment meeting around the newly launched plan in Malaysia.
Malaysia
On 16 February, 2025, ADI’s Asia Pacific Regional Director, DY Suharya attended the National Dementia Alliance Inaugural Workshop, in-person at the Genting Dementia Care Centre, Segambut, Malaysia. This collaborative event provided the opportunity for representatives from the Government, private sectors, national dementia associations and federations such as Dementia Alliance Malaysia (DAMAI) and ADI member association Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM), as well as neuroscientists,medical practitioners, multidisciplinary professionals to discuss the practical implementation of Malaysia’s recently launched National Dementia Plan.
Malaysia launched their Dementia Action Plan 2023-2030 on 1 October 2024, a milestone which will have a direct impact on the estimated over 140,000 people living with dementia in Malaysia, their families, and carers.
At the workshop, DY highlighted the regional and sub-regional perspectives on dementia and shared ADI’s role in advocating for, and supporting the implementation of National Dementia Plans.
DY said:
Malaysia has demonstrated regional leadership by addressing the growing impact that dementia presents through the launch of this plan. More work must be done to to ensure the effective implementation of the plan through involving all stakeholders nation-wide: collaboration is key!
ADI thanks the Minister of Health of Malaysia, YB Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad; Dr Zuraini binti Ahmad, family medicine specialist from Johor with sub-speciality geriatrics in primary care representing Ministry Of Health, Malaysia (KKM) at the workshop; Eesoon Hooi of Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM); Prof Maw Pin Tan Protem President of Dementia Alliance of Malaysia (DAMAI), Allan Ching, President of the Malaysian Society of Geriatric Medicine (MSGM), Muhammad Mujada bin Rosli Center Manager – Genting Dementia Care Center Segambut, Kam Ai Teng and Goh Chun Hean from Eisai Malaysia for their continued collaboration and work towards achieving Malaysia’s National Dementia Plan.
Learn more about ADI’s Malaysian Member Association
Maldives
On 19 February, 2025, DY virtually attended the Stakeholder Meeting for the development of the National Dementia Strategy for the Maldives, a meeting hosted by The Maldives Health Ministry. The meeting sought to continue work on the development of the National Dementia Strategy with the support of the WHO Maldives country office and collaboration among respective agencies and individuals toward achieving a National Dementia Plan that improves the quality of services for people with dementia, promote greater understanding and awareness of the condition, and change the way people with dementia are viewed and cared for by the community.
The Maldives National Dementia Plan is projected to launch later in 2025.
On the development of the Maldivian National Dementia Plan DY continued:
“I’m proud of our member’s advocacy work Mariyam Fiyaza Alzheimer’s Society Maldives in supporting people with dementia and carers in Maldives, and would like share my thanks to Anne Cumming, MoH Maldives, WHO Country Office Maldives and all stakeholders in developing the Maldives National Dementia Plan.
It’s such an honour to speak virtually at the Stakeholders Consultation Workshop, building on ADI’s previous action in the country, including ADI CEO, Paola Barbarino and my visit to Maldives in 2022. Three years later, the hard work in advocating, awareness raising and collaborating is now bringing a plan into fruition!”
Learn more about ADI’s Member Association for the Maldives
Spotlight on the Asia Pacific region:
*as of February 202
There are currently 26 million people are living with dementia in the Asia-Pacific, and across the region, is expected to see 2nd greatest increase in numbers of people with dementia in 2030, marking a rapid transition from ageing to ‘aged society’.
- 5 plans exist in South-East Asia: Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines (integrated with Healthy Ageing Plan), Vietnam (integrated with NCD Plan)
- 5 Plans in East Asia: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Macau, China
- 2 State Plans in South Asia: India and Pakistan
- 1 Plan in Oceania: Australia
- Maldives and Brunei are currently developing a National Dementia Plan, while Thailand is developing a policy paper
