“DO YOU KNOW WHO HE IS?” Yes, he’s Silvio Scerri’s brother.

Published: July 15, 2013 at 11:00pm

Dementia

Times of Malta reports:

The government has appointed researcher and university lecturer Charles Scerri as the national focal point for dementia to develop a national strategy by the end of the year.

So…one brother is chief of staff to the Army, Police and Broadcasting Minister, while the other brother is chief of the government’s dementia strategy.

I’m sure there’s a wisecrack or two in there somewhere, but it’s late.




15 Comments Comment

  1. Tracy says:

    Finally John Bundy was awarded his ice bun – he is presenting his new programme “Ta’ Bundy” on TVM instead of Norman Vella

    • el bandido guapo says:

      In the interests of research I attempted to sample 5 minutes of the programme. Impossible.

  2. Allo Allo says:

    Kif m’ghamilx lil ‘Tajjeb li Tkun Taf’, Manwel Cuschieri fuq id-dimentia?

  3. C Falzon says:

    Dementia is extremely important to Labour. If it weren’t for that how would they possibly ever be elected?

    Now they need to work hard on making it more effective, thereby reducing the gap between labour victories.

  4. Victor says:

    Sorry, you got this one wrong.
    Charles Scerri has been the person most active in dementia awareness in Malta for a significant number of years and probably has done more to bring Malta up to date on this than anyone else I know of. He has helped set up the Malta Dementia Society and has built very valuable contacts with a number of the top UK centres, including the University of Stirling, internationally respected for its work in this field. He seems to me a very enlightened choice.

    His University of Malta biog:
    Dr Charles Scerri specializes in the behavioural, biochemical, neuropathological, neuropharmacological and social aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementias. He holds a PhD from the University of Dundee, Scotland and currently lectures neuropathology and neuropharmacology to various departments at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta. He is a member of various international societies including the British Pharmacological Society, the Society of Biology (UK) and the British Neuroscience Association. He is also one of the co-founders of the Malta Dementia Society and serves as General Secretary. Dr Scerri is a board member of Alzheimer Europe and act as Chairperson of the Malta Dementia Strategy Working Group within the Ministry of Health. He authored the recommendations for a national strategy on dementia and has also been appointed as an expert evaluator to several EU FP7 research projects.

    • Toyger says:

      He used to teach me during my undergraduate days, and I must say that his lectures were some of the most interesting I ever had.

      He knows his subject well, and on this appointment, I think they finally got the right person, finally someone who truly deserves it.

  5. H.P. Baxxter says:

    Is every University of Malta jack a “researcher” now?

  6. B says:

    A very apt appointment. Charles Scerri is now in a better position to find a possible cure for his brother’s dementia when the latter forgets who he is and needs to ask.

  7. Snoopy says:

    This is the problem with this government – one is never sure whether appointments are merited (Charles has been working on dementia for a good number of years) or iced buns.

  8. Rose Grima says:

    Charles Scerri has been involved in the dementia strategy since the previous government. So nothing new here. He has been dragging his feet it seems. And yes, he is the brother of ‘Don’t you know who I am’

    The family used to live a street away from me in Bormla. Silvio was an ardent canvasser of Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, and Charles used to come along with us in the work that needed to be done prior to the 1987 and subsequent elections.

    There might also be some conflict of interest in Silvio’s work. He is the Chief of staff of Manwel Mallia, whilst his sister is a police sergeant or inspector: Louise Grech.

  9. pale blue my foot! says:

    I saw the news item on the newspaper this morning and said to myself that this new appointee must have some Labour connections….and hey presto, sure enough Daphne is quick to illuminate us.

  10. M. Cassar says:

    Oh but this does shed some light on why someone needs people to know who he is!

  11. As a nurse who spent the last fifteen years of my career caring for the elderly, I got to know Charles Scerri through his work on dementia through the Malta Dementia Society.

    I’ve attended several lectures given by Dr Scerri during dementia educational programmes for formal and informal carers.

    I was a number of times shoulder to shoulder with Charles during the annual Dementia Walks which are held at Valletta.

    Whoever talked with or attended a lecture by Dr Scerri sees in him his dedication to dementia, the care of dementia patients and most important, the support which informal carers must be given by NGOs, the state and the church.

    Dr Scerri, together with other professionals, has already worked on a National Strategy for Dementia Persons which I thoroughly read several times but which unfortunately only a small part of it has been implemented till to-day.

    He was consulted several times by the parliamentary secretary for the care of the elderly and community care.

    In fact I am sure that you must have heard of a booklet named “In-nannu nesa ismi” and the last publication “X’hin hu?” which was launched by Hon Mario Galea few weeks before general election.

  12. Adrian says:

    I have known Charles for many years – a true gentleman.

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