MEAMA NETWORK

Across the MENA region, healthcare professionals at multiple levels receive limited formal training in geriatric medicine. Undergraduate medical curricula generally lack structured courses in geriatrics, and opportunities to pursue advanced certification or diplomas in geriatric medicine or gerontology remain scarce. As a result, expertise in comprehensive elderly care is unevenly distributed, despite the region's rapidly ageing population.

In response to this gap, the Middle-East Academy for Medicine of Ageing (MEAMA) has played a pioneering role in structured postgraduate education. MEAMA has successfully completed eight postgraduate courses in Geriatrics and Gerontology and two postgraduate courses in Dementia Care, providing systematic, evidence-based training tailored to regional needs.

The MEAMA network initially began with six participants representing five countries-Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain. Since then, the Academy has expanded substantially. More than 3,000 participants have completed four full cycles of the program and graduated as members of the Academy. Today, the network spans most countries across the MENA region, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, capacity building, and leadership in ageing and dementia care.