Introduction

World Alzheimer's Day is celebrated on 21st of September each year. The day was launched with the support of the World Health Organization in 1994. Alzheimer Disease International co-ordinates events and produces and distributes materials around the world.

Under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, Alzheimer Greek associations, care takers and people with the disease united to raise awareness of a disease that affects over 24 million people worldwide.

The Participants

The World Alzheimer's Day program constituted a unique opportunity for medical institutions, non-governmental organizations, public health professionals, field experts, policy makers, media representatives and pharmaceutical companies to collaborate and join forces towards public welfare under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity. In this particular Health Day the Athenian Alzheimer's Association as well as the Hellenic Alzheimer's Organization, which is a member of ADI, joined forces under the aegis of the Greek Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity.

The Objective

The program aimed at raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease and encouraging people to get informed about this important health issue and become proactive.

Campaign Actions

• Informative kiosk at Kolonaki Square

An informative kiosk was set up in the heart of Athens, at Kolonaki Square. For the whole day, thousands of citizens that daily pass by the centre of Athens had the opportunity of getting informed while visiting the kiosk.

At the information kiosk the passers by were informed about Alzheimer's disease, its symptoms and how to deal with it in general from the well trained personnel that was there to distribute brochures and provide valuable information.

• Portal: www.worldhealthdays.gr

For the World health Days project, a special portal was designed and set up (http://www.worldhealthdays.gr/alzheimer/i-nosos-simera), featuring informative content on the causes, prevention and treatment of various diseases. For World Alzheimer's Day that was celebrated within the framework of the program, the site featured a new section dedicated to it.

• 2008 World Alzheimer's Day Free Press

For the commemoration of the 2008 World Alzheimer's Day a modern 4-page free press newspaper was created and distributed at Kolonaki Square and at central metro stations around Athens. Featuring valuable information on several health risks, the free press was instrumental at disseminating key messages

• Press Release

For the event of the 2008 World Alzheimer's Day a well-structured press release was sent to the media and we gladly received several clippings and reports.

• Printed informative campaign on health issues with special publications

Printed informative and educational material was handed out to the public from the kiosk that was set up at Kolonaki Square.