The World Dementia Council (WDC) fully endorses the statement made by the Council’s Country Associate Members, welcoming and supporting the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) adoption of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia.

All six of the Country Associate Members of the Council - Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom - delivered a joint statement after the Global Action Plan for Dementia was endorsed during the 70th WHA in Geneva on 29th May 2017. The text of the statement is as follows:

The World Dementia Council Chair, Yves Joanette says: “The World Dementia Council is delighted to join with our Country Associate Members in welcoming and supporting the WHO’s Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia, including in its specific aims to improve the lives of people affected by dementia and reduce the disease’s impact on communities and countries.

“We share the belief set out in the statement that a coordinated response to dementia requires collaboration among all stakeholders to improve research, prevention, awareness, diagnosis, care, support and quality of life - as well as the necessary research to offer the relevant data for these improvements to be based upon - for people living with dementia, their families and care partners. We also thank the WHO for its leadership in addressing this urgent global health issue and urge all Member States to fully support the Global Action Plan and to rapidly initiate its implementation.”