During a recent Dementia Awareness Campaign held at the San Kopano Community Centre, Alex residents were urged not to regard the elderly who suffer from dementia as witches but instead support them.
The campaign was aimed at sensitising residents about the disease’s devastating effects, how to recognise its symptoms and what steps to take when dealing with an affected person.
A dementia specialist, Dr Carla Kotze of the city council, said while the disease affects people over 65 years of age and especially women, it could affect anyone.
Kotze said that, unfortunately, most communities tend to confuse people suffering from the disease with witches. Such people generally end up being killed for being witches. Witchcraft is often blamed for bringing bad luck to others.
Kotze said the disease manifested in progressive changes in memory and thinking and most sufferers ended up forgetting their names, where they came from or where they were going.
She said early detection of the illness helped sufferers access immediate support, information and medication. “It’s crucial for dementia sufferers to also have the opportunity to take part in planning the rest of their lives and their finances, and in indicating their wishes regarding future care,” she added.
Kotze added that a common type of the disease was Alzheimers and there was no specific test to detect it before it emerges and, sadly, there is no known cure for it and tests and research were ongoing.
Also, she couldn’t discount the use of African traditional medicine in finding a cure for the disease, but urged that proper diagnosis would need physical and neurological examination.
Participants were encouraged to be dementia ambassadors by informing others about the disease, to be on the lookout for strange behaviour, especially among the elderly, and to report those affected to non-profit organisation Dementia SA, the police or social workers.
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