National Grant Funding Scheme |14 February 2024
Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation shares project
Since its inception in 2019, a total of 105 projects worth R32,514,904.90 have been funded under the National Grant Funding Scheme. For 2024, 22 applications were submitted in the first batch, out of which eight projects were successful for a total sum of R3,328,625.00.
One of them was from the Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation which has been allocated an approved budget of R277,292 to train professional staff, health care assistants, specialised nurses, families and home care givers of Alzheimer patients and to raise awareness about the condition in the community.
It is further aimed at improving the quality of care administered to persons living with Alzheimer’s through community awareness, capacity building and provision of psycho-social care.
Seychelles NATION had the special opportunity to speak to Nâne Lionnet, member of the executive committee about the strategic and extensive number of activities, made possible through the grant.
Ms Lionnet noted that the foundation is aimed at bettering the lives of those who suffer from the affliction. She stated that although the hospitals treat the patients, they do not tailor anything specifically for them, such as the special care they might require.
“They do not get any moral or emotional support. They just go to the clinic and get medication, but it should not stop at that,” said Ms Lionnet.
She explained that the grant will help better the home visits to these families, including chatting with the sufferers if they are in the earlier stages.
They can also meet with the caregivers who are exhausted due to their demanding 24-hour job. “We talk to them and give them advice on how to avoid caregiver burnout and things like that,” said Ms Lionnet.
Other activities include home visits to Praslin on February 20, 21 and 22, with a special seminar on the 21st at Le Duc de Praslin, for members of the foundation and the caregivers, which will be from 10am to 3pm.
In addition, support group meetings are also planned every three months in different districts; the first one being in March in Anse Royale. “Later on during the year, we will have one in north Mahe and one in the central region,” she noted.
Ms Lionnet explained that there is a planned home-based training that will begin in March where one or two families will assemble in one household, in the presence of a doctor and a nurse for a mini-training on the basics of dementia and Alzheimer’s and how to take care of their relatives.
“They will learn about things such as nutrition, exercise and what can still be done.”
Another activity in a two-day caregiver training workshop where different topics will be broached such as managing the behaviour of Alzheimer sufferers, and the theory of dementia among others. It will be held on all three main islands between April 6 and 19.
Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation has also sought the help of experts from abroad, with Seychelles-born Michael Meme, who presently works at a dementia centre in Scotland, traveling to Seychelles in July to be the main speaker at a workshop.
It is expected that Dr Yared Zewde (MD), Assistant Professor of Neurology and Founding Director of Alzheimer's Ethiopia who was in Seychelles last year will return as well to diagnose Alzheimer patients.
Another person who is expected to share his expertise is Professor Kristopher Rhoades from the Washington University, USA, who is a clinical neuropsychologist specialising in the evaluation and treatment of dementia and neurodegenerative disorders.
“Without the grant, we would not be able to afford all that,” concluded Ms Lionnet.
Sunny Esparon