Healthcare groups turn to blogging too

Sunday April 6, 2008
Source : The Sunday Star Newspaper

GENTING HIGHLANDS: It is not just political activists who have turned to blogs, healthcare support groups are joining the bandwagon, too.

Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) is the latest to turn to blogs to help bridge the information gap among patients and caregivers.

Two sites http://www.adfmmalaysia.blogspot.com/ and http://www.admalaysia.ning.com/ (National Alzheimer's Caregivers Network) are expected to be launched today, the final day of the National Alzheimer's Caregivers Conference here.

Event organising chairman Ong Eng Joo said members could post articles on the disease on the blogs.

Pretty little things: Wendy Ong (right) and ADFM founder Toh Puan Aishah Ong looking at the souvenirs on sale at the conference in Genting Highlands yesterday.

"We are also planning to set up a helpline, where the public can post questions which will be referred to professionals. The answers will be published online," he told The Star.

Ong said they hoped to incorporate a chat room, which would be moderated by doctors, so that the public have a platform to discuss Alzheimer's Disease.

He said a pool of 10 to 15 specialists had agreed to be moderators.

Earlier, ADFM patron Datin Seri Wendy Ong, who launched the three-day conference, said: "We know that there is still so much that has to be done to make information more accessible to caregivers, especially those living in remote areas.

"With ADFM setting up a National Caregivers Network, more information on the disease will be shared among the caregivers."