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The Man Behind |
Dr. K. Jacob Roy
Chairman
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It was the personal traumatic experience of
caring his father late Rev. O.C. Kuriakose Kor Episcopa, that led Dr. Jacob
Roy, a Paediatrician by profession, to turn zealously to form a society
for the care and support of people affected with dementia. Even in late
80's none of the medical centres in the country were in a position to offer
any significant help to those affected.
In 1991, Tropical Health Foundation of India, a registered Charitable Society,
working for the disabled, took the initiative at the instance of Dr. K.
Jacob Roy and late Maj. A.V. Thomas (Rtd.) to organize, the first National
Seminar, on Dementia, on 16th and 17th November 1991 at the Renewal Centre
in Cochin |
The seminar, attended by early 200 delegates
from all over the country, unanimously decided to form a national organization
for the welfare of people with dementia. They felt the growing need to create
awareness about dementia and to initiate programmes, to provide support
for the people affected and their families. Dr. Monty Barker, consultant
Psychiatrist, University of Bristol, UK, delivered the keynote address.
The notable speakers included Dr. Vijay Chandra, then Director of Central
Aging and Research, New Delhi, Dr. Venkoba Rao from Madurai Medical College
and Dr. Vinod Kumar, AIIMS, New Delhi
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The World Federation of National AD Societies
and Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) awarded provisional membership
for ARDSI in 1992, at the 8th annual Conference held in Amsterdam. Subsequently
in 1993 ADI admitted ARDSI as a full member, thus becoming the first Afro-Asian
Organisation to get this unique distinction. |
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