Nigeria’s demographic dividend: contradictions and priority setting in health for older persons

Isaac Adedeji, University of Ibadan
Ole Norheim, University of Bergen
Kabiru Salami, University of Ibadan

As the era of unprecedented demographic and epidemiological transitions occur simultaneously in Nigeria, they evolve remarkably historical and policy milestones that are socially symbolic. Substantively, the dynamics of these in Nigeria are not without consequences for national health needs and policy. These changes bring old people (a rapidly rising population) into the mainstream of health debates because they constitute a functionally dependent and financially vulnerable population. In clear terms, Nigeria’s health priorities and investments align strongly with the global development agenda (MDGs) as it emphasizes infectious and communicable diseases. Although the contradictions between the global health agenda and burden of disease in Nigeria are clear, the ‘global’ has overshadowed the ‘heavy’ cost of treating non-communicable diseases found most among older persons. Therefore, the paper, deriving from secondary sources, engages the realities of country-specific burden of disease, unique health expenditure patterns; social context of elderly care and ethics of priority setting.