Mauritius is Africa’s best country to grow old in, a new survey shows.
The UN-backed Global AgeWatch Index 2013, released Tuesday, also ranked Tanzania as the most unfavourable country on the continent to be a senior citizen in.
The survey is the first of its kind to collate
global data on the wellbeing of the elderly--defined as those above the
age of 60.
However the index ranked only eight of Africa’s 54 countries, due to what it said was a lack of comparable data.
Mr Tilahun Abebe, 76, the vice-president of
the Ethiopian Elderly and Pensioners National Association, says his old
age has given him experience and 'a better understanding of society.
PHOTO | ERNA MENTESNOT HINTZ | HELP AGE INTERNATIONAL
PHOTO | ERNA MENTESNOT HINTZ | HELP AGE INTERNATIONAL
"Given that by 2050 there will be 215 million
older people –representing 10 per cent of the global population – the
lack of data [on Africa] is a key concern," the researchers said.
The 91 countries surveyed, however, constituted 89 per cent of the world’s older population, the report noted.
The index also shows that the world is rapidly
ageing, with a fifth of the population-- some two billion senior
citizens--expected to be made up of the elderly by 2050.
This would outnumber those under the age of 15,
and is attributed to better diets and sanitation, advances in medicine,
greater prosperity and falling birth rates.
Currently, those aged 60 and above number 809
million; 11 per cent of the world’s population, the index, compiled by
the HelpAge International advocacy group and the UN Population Fund,
said.
The survey used four key indicators in the
rankings; income security, education and employment, health status and
an enabling environment. This new data would help bring in normally
‘invisible’ older people into public policy making, the researchers
noted.
"[This report] broadens the way we understand
the needs and opportunities of older people, going far beyond the
adequacy of pensions and other income support which, though critical,
often narrows policy thinking and debate about the needs of this age
group," Prof Sir Richard Jolly of the Institute of Development Studies
at the University of Sussex, said.
The researchers also said that following the
rankings of the BRICS countries—which account for 25 per cent of world
GDP—it was apparent that there was no correlation between a country’s
economic growth and older people’s wellbeing.
A new landmark survey this week
said that many Africans felt they were not benefiting from the rapid
growth on the continent that has given rise to the 'Africa Rising'
narrative.
SOURCE: UNDESA Population Division, Population Ageing and Development 2012
Mauritius’ top ranking is attributed to a
long-standing commitment to social protection for its citizens, as well
as older people’s positive perceptions on the quality of their life. The
island nation was also recently ranked as Africa’s happiest country in another UN-sponsored report.
Tanzania in contrast was said to be
experiencing generalised insecurity, widespread poverty, and rapid
social and economic change, with older people working well into old age.
"Indeed, 73 per cent of older people remain
economically active, with most engaged in small-scale agriculture," the
researchers noted, but added that the country was looking to provide
universal pension as a first step.
The survey notes that South Africa has since
the end of apartheid had to reprioritise healthcare to benefit as many
people as possible, leading to scenario where there now are only eight
geriatric doctors for the country’s older population of four million.
In Nigeria, the survey notes that the provision
of basic healthcare and pension is sorely missing, despite its
considerable oil wealth, while Ghana conversely has strong health
services such as the National Health Insurance Scheme introduced in
2000.
Sweden, Norway, Germany, Netherlands and Canada topped the overall rankings.
Africa Rankings (/100)
1-Mauritius 58.0, 2-South Africa 41.0, 3-Ghana 39.2, 4-Morocco 26.6, 5-Nigeria 24.0, 6-Malawi 17.8, 7-Rwanda 16.6, 8-Tanzania 4.6
Revelation1-Mauritius 58.0, 2-South Africa 41.0, 3-Ghana 39.2, 4-Morocco 26.6, 5-Nigeria 24.0, 6-Malawi 17.8, 7-Rwanda 16.6, 8-Tanzania 4.6
SOURCE: AFRICAN REVIEW
