Dementia-free Odisha 2036 campaign launched in Bhubaneswar
BMC to begin ward-level screenings as experts highlight urgent need for support systems
By Kambu Dhar Kheti
Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Sulochana Das on Tuesday inaugurated the Odisha outreach office of Dementia India Alliance (DIA), Bangalore, and launched the ambitious campaign “Dementia-Free Odisha 2036.”
Speaking at a state-level event marking World Alzheimer’s Day (September 21), organised by the Dementia Care Odisha Chapter—a joint initiative of DIA and local agency SWORD—the Mayor said BMC, in collaboration with DIA, will conduct ward-level screenings to identify geriatric and dementia patients among senior citizens. “The campaign for a dementia-free state will begin from Bhubaneswar,” she affirmed before an audience of over 200 senior citizens.
The programme was presided over by Prof. Prafulla Kumar Dhal, who, in his keynote address, underlined the scale of the challenge: 89% of Odisha’s elderly face geriatric health issues, and nearly seven lakh people in the state live with dementia, including more than 20,000 in Bhubaneswar alone. He noted the absence of a comprehensive care and support ecosystem in Odisha.
Former Chief Secretary B.K. Pattanaik, chief patron of the campaign, unveiled the poster and urged the government to establish a neuroscience resource centre in Bhubaneswar. He also emphasized the importance of making organic food affordable.
Dr. P.K. Dash, president of Odisha Barista Nagarika Federation, called for government-community partnerships to launch transformative initiatives for senior citizens. BMC corporators, SWORD Director Soubhagya Ranjan Bhuyan, and Advisor Sudhir Kumar Behera were also present.
Medical experts including renowned geriatrician Dr. Subhokanta Choudhury (KIMS), Dr. Saumya Ranjan Dash (SUM Hospital), and Dr. Sunil Patra (Manipal Hospital) highlighted the importance of early detection, timely treatment, and holistic care.
The event concluded with a signature campaign and a collective call for action to intensify awareness and sensitisation programmes across the state.
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