WHO: Dementia now major health challenge in Africa, costs families $15.6bn yearly

The World Health Organisation has said dementia is increasingly becoming a major public health challenge in Africa, costing families and societies an estimated $15.6 billion annually, Peoples Gazette reports.

In a statement issued after its 2026 Regional Intercountry Workshop on Dementia held in Nairobi, WHO said an estimated 1.9 million people are currently living with the condition across the region, adding that the number is expected to rise significantly as populations grow and life expectancy increases.

The organisation further noted that unpaid caregivers, mostly women, spend an average of 12.9 hours daily providing care, far exceeding the global average of 7.8 hours.

WHO also disclosed that as of 2024, none of the 47 countries in its African Region had a national dementia plan, with only five having conducted public awareness campaigns.

Officials at the workshop stressed that translating discussions into concrete country-level action remains the priority, warning that without urgent intervention, millions of African families risk being left to face the growing crisis alone.