14.1 WHO’s work in health emergencies

ADI thanks the WHO for its work during health emergencies around the world, and would also like to highlight the disproportionate impact these emergencies have on those living with dementia.

Those living with dementia are disproportionately impacted by infectious disease, as demonstrated for example by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Canada, of all COVID-19 deaths in 2020, dementia was reported on 36 per cent of death certificates; in Australia, 41%, up to 28% in the UK and up to 20% in Italy.

ADI would like to remind the WHO and Member States to be mindful of the specific needs of those living with dementia and to better integrate local dementia association expertise into humanitarian responses and infectious disease outbreaks.