As we marked International Day of Care on October 29th, a day dedicated to recognizing the invaluable contribution of caregivers worldwide, I found myself reflecting deeply on my own journey as a caregiver. My story is not unique, but it illuminates the critical gaps in our care policies and systems.

In 2014, I found myself at a hospital, watching my father being discharged for home-based care. Nobody asked if I could manage – it was simply expected. At home, I had a 6-month-old baby and a 3.5-year-old child needing my attention. I had a full-time job. Yet somehow, I was supposed to become a skilled caregiver overnight, with no training, no support, and no choice.

Fast forward to 2022, and history repeated itself. This time, it was my mother who fell seriously ill and needed home-based care. By then, I was juggling four young children and greater work responsibilities. Once again, the healthcare system simply assumed I would step in, regardless of my circumstances. The weight of expectation fell squarely on my shoulders – a weight that society places disproportionately on women.

The Dance of Reciprocity: Understanding Care Relationships

Care is not a one-way street. When we tend to our ailing parents while raising young children, when a nurse aids a patient, when a community health worker visits remote villages – these interactions create bonds of mutual growth and vulnerability. For care recipients, quality care means dignity, health, and the ability to participate in society. For caregivers, their work can bring deep personal fulfillment, but also physical exhaustion, emotional strain, and often, economic hardship.

The African context adds unique dimensions to this dynamic. Our traditional systems of community care, anchored in ubuntu philosophy – “I am because we are” – have long recognized this reciprocity. Yet modernization and urbanization are straining these systems without adequate policy responses.

The Invisible Backbone of Our Economy

Consider these stark realities:

• Unpaid care work, predominantly performed by women, contributes billions to our economies yet remains uncounted in GDP calculations
• Professional caregivers often earn minimum wage despite their critical societal role
• The emotional and physical toll of caregiving leads to high burnout rates and health issues – Many caregivers sacrifice their own economic opportunities, leading to long-term financial insecurity

The Policy Blind Spot

Current policies reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of care work. They typically:

1. Focus solely on care recipients while neglecting caregiver welfare
2. Treat care as a private responsibility rather than a public good
3. Fail to recognize the economic value of unpaid care work
4. Ignore the intersectionality of gender, poverty, and care responsibilities

The Silent Crisis: When Caregivers Aren’t Supported

The current system assumes:

• That caregivers can seamlessly balance professional responsibilities with complex care duties
• That they have the knowledge and skills to provide medical care with minimal training
• That their own physical and mental health can withstand the pressure
• That they have the financial resources to manage additional care-related expenses – That they can navigate this journey alone

It took immense courage to eventually speak up and ask my siblings to share the responsibility of caring for our mother. In many African contexts, such a request is seen as unusual, even controversial. But as I learned through my journey, you cannot pour from an empty cup.

Towards Caregiver-Centric Policies

A paradigm shift is needed. Effective care policies must include:

1. Economic Recognition and Support

• Direct income support for family caregivers
• Professional recognition and fair wages for care workers
• Pension credits for years spent in unpaid care work

2. Infrastructure and Services

• Community care centers in both urban and rural areas
• Respite care services
• Training and skill development programs

3. Workplace Reform

• Paid care leave policies
• Flexible working arrangements
• Protection against care-related discrimination

4. Health and Well-being

• Mental health support for caregivers
• Regular health check-ups
• Caregiver support groups and networks

The African Imperative

For Africa, this conversation is particularly urgent. As our population grows and ages, as urbanization reshapes family structures, and as we strive for economic transformation, we cannot afford to perpetuate policies that undervalue care work.

Our traditional systems understood care as a communal responsibility. Modern policy must build on this wisdom while addressing contemporary challenges. This means developing uniquely

African solutions that:

• Blend formal and informal care systems
• Strengthen community-based care networks
• Recognize and support traditional caregiving roles
• Create economic opportunities within the care sector

Moving Forward

The time has come to place caregivers at the center of policy discussions. This isn’t just about social justice – it’s about acknowledging the reality that most of us will either be caregivers or need care at some point in our lives. When we support caregivers, we strengthen families, communities, and ultimately, our entire economic system.

As we reflect on this International Day of Care, let’s commit to policies that recognize care work for what it is: not just a labor of love, but the foundation of human dignity and economic prosperity. We must create systems that support caregivers before they reach their breaking point – before they have to make the brave but difficult decision to ask for help.

Our caregivers deserve nothing less. I know this not just as a political economist, but as someone who has lived this reality twice over. The time for change is now.

Author’s note: This piece draws from both personal experience and economic analysis, advocating for a fundamental shift in how we value and support care work through policy.