African health leaders meet to address rising dementia crisis

Dementia has emerged as a significant public health challenge in Africa, affecting an estimated 1.9 million people across the region. The condition imposes a substantial economic burden, costing societies and families approximately US$15.6 billion annually. A disproportionate impact is felt by unpaid caregivers, primarily women, who provide an average of 12.9 hours of care per day, significantly higher than the global average of 7.8 hours.

As of 2024, none of the 47 countries in the WHO African Region had established a national dementia plan. To address this gap, health leaders from ten countries—Cabo Verde, Comoros, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—convened in Nairobi for the 2026 Regional Intercountry Workshop on Dementia. Organized by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, the workshop focused on improving diagnosis, expanding access to care, reducing stigma, and building health worker capacity for early treatment.