Recommendations for a national strategy for dementia care in Nigeria: Elevating a public health priority through a modern service framework.
Nigeria's rapidly expanding older adult population, mirroring a global demographic shift, is driving a surge in dementia cases. Currently 4.9% of Nigerian older adults have dementia and this figure is set to increase. Fragmented care delivery, weak institutional infrastructure, and pervasive social stigma severely hinder effective diagnosis, treatment, and structural support. This paper proposes a Modern Service Framework for Dementia Care in Nigeria; a proactive, evidence-based national strategy designed to overhaul Nigerian healthcare delivery through six critical, intersecting pillars. The proposed framework establishes a coordinated intervention pathway by: (1). Creating integrated, communicative health systems, (2). Promoting healthy ageing and life-course prevention, (3). Driving diagnostic innovation and primary-care screening, (4). Raising targeted community, traditional, and religious awareness, (5). Scaling workforce capacity alongside sustainable funding mechanisms, and (6). Fostering cross-sectoral partnerships to safeguard vulnerable individuals. Rapid, formal adoption of this comprehensive framework is vital to mitigate the immense economic and caregiving burdens placed on families and the broader healthcare system, ultimately ensuring that every Nigerian living with dementia receives equitable, dignified, and rights-based support.
Authors
Sorinmade Sorinmade, Elugbadebo Elugbadebo, Olufunlayo Olufunlayo, Baiyewu Baiyewu
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