Silver-Cross Hospitals and Foundation in Abuja has held another free medical screening at the Arts and Culture Complex, Area 10, Abuja.
This event was organized to mark the 2025 World Alzheimer’s Day.
During the event, 200 elderly people received free special medicines.
The program was done in partnership with NaidCARE, a non-governmental organization.
Other groups that helped were the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN).
Dr. Patrick Ezie, the CEO of Silver-Cross Hospitals and Foundation, told in reporters that the event was part of their efforts to improve healthcare and support Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He said the hospital always tries to help people stay healthy, especially those living in areas with little access to healthcare.
“Not everyone can go to the hospital,” he said, “so we try to visit people in hard-to-reach places. We offer care, health education, and support to help ease their burden.”
“This is one of our main goals at Silver-Cross Hospitals – to meet people’s healthcare needs where they are,” he added.
Dr. Ezie said that to mark World Alzheimer’s Day, they offered free medical services like eye, ear, dental, and general checkups. A team of doctors and nurses was there to help.
He explained that they were mainly helping about 200 elderly people aged 65 and above, as they often face serious health problems.
Ezie also said that many people in Nigeria do not know much about Alzheimer’s disease.
He described it as a brain disease that affects memory and behavior, and it mostly affects older people.
He noted that unusual behavior caused by Alzheimer’s is often misunderstood. Some people wrongly think it is due to witchcraft or spiritual problems, which leads to stigma.
“Some older people start having brain problems without knowing it’s Alzheimer’s. When people treat them badly because of this, it makes things worse. We are asking everyone to show more care and love,” he said.
Senator Eze Ajoku, the National Coordinator of COSROPIN, also spoke during the event. He asked for special care centers to be created for elderly people, where they can get support and advice.
He called on both the government and private sector to do more to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and improve care for older people.
Dr. Olubanjo Akerele, a family doctor and head of the NaidCARE medical team, said he was happy with the number of people who came and the services provided.
He said it’s important not to treat elderly people badly and reminded everyone that caring for them is a shared responsibility.
The event also included health education sessions, free health information materials, and talks with elderly people and their caregivers.
World Alzheimer’s Day is celebrated every year on September 21. It aims to raise awareness about the disease and fight the stigma surrounding dementia.
