AfricanelderlypopulationgrowthattributedtoimprovedsupportsystemsPopulationhasbecomeacommonsubjectamongpolicymakersbecauseoftheimpactithasoneconomicpoliciesofbothdevelopedanddevelopingcountries.Populationdynamics,suchaschangesinpopulationsize,structureanddistribution,andtheassociateddemographicfactorsofbirths,deathsandmigrationaffectallfacetsofhumanlife.Forthatreason,populationhasemergedasacriticalfactorinsustainableeconomicgrowthanddevelopment,andleadingpolicymakersinmosteconomiesexamineandaddresschallengesintheirownpopulationdemographics.
Globally,theworldpopulationinmid-2017wasestimatedbytheUnitedNationstobe7.6billionwithAfricaaccountingfor1.2billion.Continentally,ChinaisthemostpopulouscountryinAsiawithover1.3billionpeople,whileNigerialeadsinAfricawith187million.By2050,Africa鈥檚populationandthatoftheMiddleEastwillsurpassthatofChinaandIndia.Thispopulationgrowthisattributedtoimprovedhealthcaresystems,betternutrition,increaseinhouseholdincomesandfavorablegovernmentpoliciesaimedatimprovingthewelfareoftheirpeople.Thishasledtoanincreaseinthelifeexpectancyonthecontinent,causingrapidpopulationgrowth.Asaresult,concernsovertheageingpopulationhavecometotheforewithattentionbeingdrawntothechallengesthatcomewithanincreaseinthepopulationoftheelderly.
Leftbehind
Africahasapproximately60millionpeopleagedover60,andin2030,therewillbeover103millionelderlypeopleinAfrica.InSub-SaharanAfrica,thepopulationofelderlypeopleabove60yearsisprojectedtoincreasebyfourfoldsby2050,accordingtostatisticsreleasedbytheAfricanUnion(AU).Justlikeinotherdevelopingcountries,themajorityoftheelderlypeopleinAfricancountriesliveinruralareaswithwomenoutnumberingmenbyvirtueoftheirlongerlifespan.Incomparisonwithotherregionsoftheworld,AfricastilllagsbehindtheU.S.,JapanandEuropehavingahigherelderlypopulation.TheelderlypeopleinAfricafacemanychallengesthathavecaughttheattentionofpolicymakerswhoarecurrentlyeitherimprovingorplanningtoimprovesocialsecuritypoliciesasawayofmitigation.Oneoftheproblemsfacingtheelderlyisunemploymentandincomeinsecurity.
Mostemployeesretirefromactiveemploymentattheageofbetween55and65withminimalincomeorlackofitdependingonthenatureoftheiremploymentcontracts.Duetobeingjobless,elderlypeoplecannotaccessregularincome,whichcutsthemofffromaccesstobasicneeds.Lackoffoodandmalnutritionareotherproblemsthattheelderlyfacetoday.Theycannotgetfoodtoeatbecausetheylackenergytotilltheirlandsforsubsistencefoodcrops,leadingtomalnutrition.Thoseinruralareashavefoundthemselvesisolatedandlonely.Theystayalonebecausetheirchildrenandgrandchildrenmigratetourbancentersinsearchofwhite-collarjobs.Occasionally,theygetfinancialsupportfromtheirurbanfamilymembersviamobilemoneytransferservices.
Overcomingchallenges
Traditionally,beingoldwasastatussymbolforrespectandwisdom.Lately,lackofrespectfortheelderlyhasbecomeamajorchallenge.Theelderlypeoplearenolongerheldinhighesteem,whichleavesthemdesolate,desperateanddepressed.Andwitholdagecomesphysical,mentalandhealthfrailtiesduetonon-communicablediseaseslikediabetesandcardiovascularconditions.Besidesbeingvulnerabletodiseasesduetoageingorgans,elderlypeopleinAfricaareburdenedwithcaringfortheirgrandchildrenorphanedbyHIV/AIDS.ThegoodnewsisthatAfricancultureappreciatestheroleoftheolderpeopleinsocietyeventhoughmodernizationiserodingthisculturalpractice.TheyarecustodiansoftheAfricancultureandvaluesthatarepassedfromonegenerationtoanother.
KenyaisamongtheAfricancountriesthathavecomeupwithpoliciesonsocialsecurityandaccesstohealthcareservicestargetingtheelderly.Since2013,thisgrouphasbeenreceivingamonthlystipendof$20fortheirupkeep.TheyalsogetfreemedicalcoverundertheNationalHospitalInsuranceFundprogram.Non-governmentalorganizations(NGOs),likeHelpAgeInternational,havealsoplayedanimportantroleinsupportingtheelderlythroughclaimingtheirrights,challengingdiscriminationandseekingmeasurestoovercomepovertysothattheycanleaddignified,secureandhealthylives.NGOshavefootprintsinmanyAfricancountriessuchasCameroon,Ethiopia,TheGambia,Ghana,Kenya,SouthAfricaandZimbabwe.
ToremedythechallengesthattheelderlyarefacinginAfrica,theAUmemberstatessignedaprotocoltoformulatepoliciesaimedathaltingdiscriminationagainsttheagedespeciallyregardingemployment,andsocialsecuritysystems,andinstitutebehavioralchangetodealwiththeprevailingnegativeattitudestowardtheelderlyandofferthemfreeaccesstomedicalservices.Already,mostAfricancountriesarelegislatingpoliciestoincludetheelderlyinpovertyalleviationprogramsfocusingonsubsidizedfoodfortheelderly.Theyhaveheightenedcampaignsandpublicmeetings-barazas,toraiseawarenessontheroleoftheelderlyinmodernsociety.
Thesigningofaprotocolonhumanrightsandpeople鈥檚rightsforelderlypeopleinAfricabyAUmembersin2016isapositivestep.Ithelpsthecontinentaddresstheneedsoftheelderly,suchasregularincomes,equitabledistributionofresources,accesstoappropriatehealthservices,basicsocialservices,careandsupportfromthefamily,recognitionoftheircontributiontowardthecareofpersonslivingwithHIV/AIDSandorphans,respectandrecognitionoftheroleandcontributionthatelderlypersonsmaketosocietyandrecognitionoftheirspecialneedsinemergencysituation.Thisisaclearstatementthatthecontinentisaddressingthechallengesfacingtheelderlyfromapolicyperspectivewhichismoresustainablethanknee-jerkresponses.
TheauthorisaKenyaneconomist,consultantandaregionalcommentatorontradeandinvestment
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