Dementia becoming major health challenge in Africa; costing families $15.6 billion annually: WHO

The WHO said, “The number is expected to rise significantly as populations grow and life expectancy increases.”

The World Health Organisation has said dementia is increasingly becoming a major public health challenge in Africa, costing families and societies about $15.6 million annually.

The National Institute of Aging defined Dementia as “the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.”

The WHO in a statement on Thursday highlighted the increasing cases of dementia in Africa after its 2026 Regional Intercountry Workshop on Dementia, held between September 14 and 16 in Nairobi, Kenya.

“Dementia is increasingly becoming a major public health challenge in Africa, with an estimated 1.9 million people currently living with the condition across the region,” WHO said.

It added, “The number is expected to rise significantly as populations grow and life expectancy increases.”