The number of people in the Western Balkans suffering from dementia has reached 400,000 and this health disorder is seen as one of the most serious and the fastest growing healthcare challenge, said the World Health Organization (WHO).

Adoption of national strategies for fight against dementia was topic of a conference held in Sarajevo on Thursday, which gathered representatives of healthcare ministries, authorities of other countries in the region, as well as members of European and world associations for fighting dementia.

“Prevalence of dementia in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 9.6 percent. Dementia is not a natural flow of ageing and it doesn't come with age. Dementia is one of the most serious and fastest growing health challenges for healthcare services, social welfare, social community and family, which is particularly emphasized in the countries with elder population,” said Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs for healthcare issues Drazenka Malicbegovic.

According to statistics, life expectancy in the world has extended and a number of people older than 65 will double by 2050.

The number of people in Bosnia suffering from dementia has reached 150,000, emphasized Director of the Sarajevo Centre for Dementia Osman Kucuk.

“That is a phase when the affected person needs a full-time care, which requires a big number of nurses, whom we don't have and this is a huge problem of everyone in the region,” added Kucuk.