A profound and distressing human rights crisis is unfolding across communities in Nigeria and Uganda, where a fundamental lack of awareness about dementia is having deadly consequences. Elderly citizens displaying symptoms of the condition are being branded as 'witches' or 'wizards', leading to their abandonment, abuse, and even murder.
The problem is rooted in a tragic knowledge gap. As Julianne Nebe, Africa co-ordinator for the non-profit Alzheimer's Disease International, explains, "The knowledge that dementia is a medical condition is not there at all." Instead, symptoms like memory loss, confusion, and changes in behaviour are misinterpreted through a superstitious lens, seen as evidence of evil supernatural influence.
A Life of Fear and Isolation
The impact on individuals is devastating. Many are cast out from their own families and villages, left to fend for themselves without support. Ms. Nebe's organisation has documented countless cases of people being:
- Verbally and physically assaulted by their own communities.
- Forcibly exiled from their homes and left destitute.
- Subjected to violent and sometimes fatal 'exorcisms'.
One 96-year-old woman in Nigeria's Akwa Ibom state was nearly beaten to death by a mob after being accused of witchcraft. Such stories are tragically common.
A Ticking Time Bomb
The issue is set to worsen dramatically. Africa has the world's fastest-growing ageing population. Current estimates suggest nearly 2.5 million people in Nigeria and Uganda are living with dementia, a figure expected to soar by over 200% in the next three decades.
This surge will collide with deeply entrenched cultural beliefs unless significant educational efforts are made. "We need to create massive awareness that this is a medical condition," urges Ms. Nebe, highlighting the urgent need for public health campaigns to demystify dementia and stop the cycle of abuse.
