Dementia awareness in Namibia hampered by lack of data, says activist
Lack of statistics and stigma leave thousands with dementia unrecognised and at risk
Namibia has joined the rest of the world in marking September as Dementia Awareness Month, but activists warns that the country's lack of data, stigma and witchcraft-related violence continue to endanger those living with the condition.
Berrie Holtzhausen, founder of Alzheimer’s Dementia Namibia (ADN), has warned that Namibia faces a serious challenge in addressing dementia due to the absence of reliable statistics and ongoing social stigma.Speaking in Swakopmund during International Dementia Month, Holtzhausen said the global initiative began as World Alzheimer’s Month about 15 years ago but has since broadened to recognise all forms of dementia. “Dementia is not a disease. Dementia is your brain busy dying off,” he said.
He noted that while international averages suggest around 4% of people over 65 live with dementia – rising to 10% among those aged 70–80 – no official figures exist in Namibia. “This is the first question always: where’s the data? But they need to get the data, not us,” he said, adding that neurologists and psychiatrists should establish a national database of diagnoses.
Holtzhausen warned that the lack of data and awareness has severe consequences in rural Namibia, where 1.5 million people live without access to adequate healthcare. “There might be a clinic here and there. But nearly 90% of people in sub-Saharan Africa with dementia will never be diagnosed until they die,” he said. ADN has begun training small groups of people from rural areas in Swakopmund to return to their villages as community educators. Holtzhausen said this grassroots approach builds on traditional Ubuntu networks and costs “not a cent” beyond basic awareness and training.
Dangerous myths - He also linked dementia to the ongoing killings of people accused of witchcraft in northern Namibia. “Specifically the knowledge also about perceiving people living with brain challenges and therefore dementia as witches who are dangerous. The perception is, we need to get rid of them; we need to kill them,” he said.
Holtzhausen said recent cases in Zambezi, including the killing of a man with a panga after being accused of witchcraft, highlight the urgency of political intervention. Despite his own diagnosis of dementia, Holtzhausen emphasised that those affected can still make a contribution. “I’m living with dementia caused by Alzheimer's for four years and eight months down the line. And I still do my work. I still travel around. I still help a lot of people. Just open your ears. Listen to us,” he said.