First ever International Bangladesh Dementia MasterClass is a success

A partnership initiative spanning the UK, Ireland and Bangladesh has resulted in an original Dementia MasterClass developed for and tailored to Bangladeshi healthcare professionals.

The virtual course is led by an expert team of UK faculty with content presented by UK and Bangladeshi clinicians and is conducted online via a mixture of interactive and self-directed learning. The course is running from August until December, with a monthly live and interactive session and learning material sent to delegates twice each month to encourage continued momentum in the course.

Sponsored via an educational grant from ESTHER Ireland and run in partnership with the Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Alzheimer Society of Bangladesh, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Lund University, the course forms part of Dementia Academy's range of educational offerings.

In Bangladesh, there is no stand-alone or integrated National Dementia Plan and there are no dedicated resources to implement such a plan, or to support healthcare professionals in terms of dementia awareness, knowledge, and practice. However, dementia is highlighted in the government’s Plan of Action for Non-communicable Diseases (NCD), creating a positive opportunity to introduce change, and to provide the educational piece of the puzzle.

35 healthcare professionals from across Bangladesh are currently on the course, which has been so well received that the partnership team have applied for a grant to consolidate and extend the course further for 2022. This will build on the educational material to encompass the needs of family carers of those with dementia, and by facilitating a professional network.