Petaling jaya: Building a dementia-ready Malaysia by 2030 requires coordinated efforts from communities alongside government healthcare initiatives to address the country's growing ageing population, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib stated.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hanifah highlighted that with 15 percent of Malaysia's population projected to be aged 60 and above by 2030, dementia has become a leading cause of dependency among older persons. While government frameworks exist, achieving national readiness necessitates moving beyond policy papers into community-level support and informed families.
"That is why initiatives like the Ministry of Health's Dementia Action Plan 2023-2030 are so important, as they focus on early detection, proper care, and community support," she emphasized. However, a dementia-ready Malaysia cannot be built through hospitals and clinics alone; it must be built through informed families, trained caregivers, skilled care workers, and supportive local communities.
Hanifah delivered these remarks during her officiating speech at the graduation ceremony for the 'Unlocking Hope for Alzheimer's Disease: Dementia Care Skill Training Courses' program and the launch of the National Dementia Awareness Campaign held at Sunway Medical Centre. As part of efforts to translate policy into action, she launched the Dementia Care Champions Network, which aims to place trained allies in neighborhoods and workplaces to provide families with immediate local guidance.
She also congratulated 200 graduating caregivers, care workers, and trainers trained under the Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia and Rotary International Global Grant initiative. Hanifah noted that building a workforce capacity with clear career pathways is essential to supporting the nation's healthy ageing agenda.
"When we train one caregiver, we strengthen a family, and when we support families, we build a healthier ageing nation, including a dementia-ready Malaysia," she stated. Hanifah also encouraged caregivers to advocate for preventive lifestyle habits, such as balanced nutrition, mental stimulation, and social engagement, to foster healthier aging across the country.