Former policeman now fights the stigma of Alzheimer’s
Dan Mpila hopes to help the people in his community to understand the disease and care for those who suffer from it.
MBOMBELA – Dan Mpila’s first encounter with Alzheimer’s disease was in 2006. He was still working for the police and attended a scene where a woman had been burnt by community members after being found in her neighbours’ house. The doctor said that “although he was no specialist, he suspected the victim had a sickness called Alzheimer’s”.
Mpila was forced to leave the police service for health reasons the following year. He became increasingly aware of the number of people suffering from dementia in KaMhlushwa and Tonga.
“In my area many old people are treated poorly. If they can’t burn people who they think are mad, they take them and their families into the middle of nowhere and leave them there with no food or water,” he said.
Also read: Creating awareness is the priority for Alzheimer’s Mpumalanga
There have also been recorded instances of sexual assault and violent abuse against members of the elderly population who were thought to be suffering from Alzheimer’s.
When Mpila saw an advert for Alzheimer’s Mpumalanga in the newspaper, he knew he needed to get in touch with the organisation. He is now part of the branch’s committee and has been asked to run the satellite office in KaMhlushwa, which opened last Friday.
Alzheimer’s Mpumalanga opened the satellite office with the aim to create awareness in the area and help provide home care and support for the families affected by the disease.
Also read: New Alzheimer’s offices in the city
Mpila, who speaks seven of the 11 official South African languages, hopes that his past experience in the police force will be beneficial to his work and make it easier for the locals to trust him.
“We need to help people understand that there is no cure for this disease and train them to live with and care for people suffering from dementia. Most importantly, we need to educate them about Alzheimer’s,” he said.
Mpila is currently studying towards his social work qualification because he thinks it is important for there to be at least one qualified social worker on the Alzheimer’s Mpumalanga committee. His ultimate goal is to open an old-age home in KaMhlushwa, where patients can be properly cared for.
“But I will be most happy for people to understand the disease and stop hurting those who suffer from it,” he said.
