Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein of Jordan has become an Honorary Ambassador of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), the federation of 105 Alzheimer and dementia association from around the world.
Princess Muna is an internationally renowned figure in global health and is the World Health Organization’s (WHO) patron of nursing and midwifery in the Eastern Mediterranean region and an honorary adviser for the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Development in Jordan.
On the appointment, Her Royal Highness Muna Al Hussein said: “I am delighted to have been appointed an Honorary Ambassador of ADI. Dementia is a condition which affects millions globally, with particularly high numbers forecast for the Middle East and North Africa region. In my capacity as Honorary Ambassador, I look forward to raising awareness of dementia, as we work towards improving the lives of all of those living with the condition, their carers and families.”
First ADI Ambassador from the Middle East
Princess Muna Al Hussein will be the first ADI Ambassador from the Middle East and joins Queen Silvia of Sweden, Queen Sofia of Spain and the Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera, former President of Costa Rica in this role.
Chief Executive Officer, Paola Barbarino said: “We are delighted and honoured that Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein has accepted our invitation to become an Ambassador of ADI. Her Royal Highness’ outstanding work in global health and nursing will be critical for raising awareness about the condition, which is expected to affect over 13.8 million people by 2050 in the MENA region.”
Stigma around dementia
“Despite our best efforts, stigma around dementia remains globally, and powerful, high-profile advocates for Alzheimer’s and for dementia are still very thin on the ground,” said Barbarino. “To have Princess Muna on our side will help increase the awareness of thousands more families and hopefully improve the lives of many people living with dementia and their carers in the Middle East.”
On the announcement, Founder and President of Al Oun for Alzheimer’s Patients Care Association Jordan, Hamza Nouri said: “On behalf of Al Oun for Alzheimer’s Patients Care Association and the Middle East we are beyond honoured to work alongside HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein in dementia care and welcome the news of HRH becoming the Honorary Ambassador to Alzheimer’s Disease International. Her Royal Highness’s passion and commitment to improving the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers is an inspiration to us all. We are confident that, together, we can make a real difference in the fight against this condition.”
Shocking increase in dementia prevalence forecast
Estimates show that 55 million people live with dementia globally, a figure set to increase to 139 million by 2050. Within the Middle East and North Africa, WHO data shows that the number of people living with dementia currently is around 3 million people, a number predicted to increase by a staggering 367 percent to over 13.8 million cases by 2050. The figures for Jordan are equally concerning with over 37,000 people living with the condition, a number set to increase by a massive 500% to over 232,000 by 2050.
ADI is the international federation of 105 Alzheimer associations and federations around the world, in official relations with the World Health Organization. ADI’s vision is prevention, care and inclusion today, and cure tomorrow. ADI believes that the key to winning the fight against dementia lies in a unique combination of global solutions and local knowledge. ADI works locally, by empowering Alzheimer associations to promote and offer care and support for persons with dementia and their care partners, while working globally to focus attention on dementia and campaign for policy change.
- For more information about Alzheimer’s Disease International, visit: www.alzint.org
