A non-governmental organisation, Adewunmi Desalu Parkinson’s Foundation has said the Parkinson’s disease affects more than 10 million persons, globally.
The Foundation said this during the maiden edition of the Parkinson Disease symposium to commemorate the posthumous 80th birthday of Dr Adewunmi Desalu, in whose honour the Foundation was created.
At a symposium, titled, ‘Parkinson’s disease in Nigeria: Prevalence, challenges in management and impact,’ a Consultant Neurologist at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Ikechukwu Aganweze, said, “Parkinson’s disease is a condition that afflicts more than 10 million individuals globally, and the rise in the incidence of the disease was connected to the increasing number of elderly people worldwide.”
He appealed to the government to spread knowledge about PD throughout all general hospitals, educate the population on the intricacies of the disease, invest in research initiatives, train additional neurologists, and furnish medical facilities with modern equipment.
The Executive Director, Adewunmi Desalu Parkinson’s Foundation, Oluyemisi Adedayo, said the Foundation was committed to improving the quality of life of people living with Parkinson’s disease in Nigeria and this was part of the Foundation’s efforts to increase awareness, as well as improve care and support for people affected by the disease in Nigeria.
On her part, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, ADPF, Morin Desalu, mentioned that the primary objective of the organisation was to offer compassionate care and support to patients and families, with the goal of helping them attain the highest possible quality of life.
Punch/Oyenike Oyeniyi
