The Discounted Money Value of Human Life Losses Associated With COVID-19 in Mauritius
Background: Mauritius along with other 12 countries in the African Region was identified at the early start of the COVID-19 pandemic as being at high risk due to high volume of international travel, high prevalence of non-communicable diseases and co-morbidities, high population density and signific...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.604394/full |
| _version_ | 1818256409284837376 |
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| author | Laurent Musango Ajoy Nundoochan Joses Muthuri Kirigia |
| author_facet | Laurent Musango Ajoy Nundoochan Joses Muthuri Kirigia |
| author_sort | Laurent Musango |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Mauritius along with other 12 countries in the African Region was identified at the early start of the COVID-19 pandemic as being at high risk due to high volume of international travel, high prevalence of non-communicable diseases and co-morbidities, high population density and significant share of population over 60 years (16%). The objective of this study was to estimate the total discounted money value of human life losses (TDMVCLMAURITIUS) associated with COVID-19 in Mauritius.Methods: The human capital approach (HCA) was used to estimate the TDMVCLMAURITIUS of the 10 human life losses linked with COVID-19 in Mauritius as of 16 October 2020. The HCA model was estimated with the national life expectancy of 75.51 years and a discount rate of 3%. A sensitivity analysis was performed assuming (a) 5 and 10% discount rates, and (b) the average world life expectancy of 73.2 years, and the world highest life expectancy of 88.17 years.Results: The money value of human lives lost to COVID-19, at a discounted rate of 3%, had an estimated TDMVCLMAURITIUS of Int$ 3,120,689, and an average of Int$ 312,069 per human life lost. Approximately 74% of the TDMVCLMAURITIUS accrued to persons aged between 20 and 59 years. Reanalysis of the model with 5 and 10% discount rates, holding national life expectancy constant, reduced the TDMVCLMAURITIUS by 19.0 and 45.5%, respectively. Application of the average world life expectancy at 3% discount rate reduced TDMVCLMAURITIUS by 13%; and use of the world highest life expectancy at 3% discount rate increased TDMVCLMAURITIUS by 50%.Conclusions: The average discounted money value per human life loss associated with COVID-19 is 12-fold the per capita GDP for Mauritius. All measures implemented to prevent widespread community transmission of COVID-19 may have saved the country 837 human lives worth Int$258,080,991. This evidence, conjointly with human rights arguments, calls for increased investments to bridge the existing gaps for achieving universal health coverage by 2030. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:27:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c25c1e21f2df43b995575095938f2a53 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:27:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-c25c1e21f2df43b995575095938f2a532022-12-22T00:17:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652020-11-01810.3389/fpubh.2020.604394604394The Discounted Money Value of Human Life Losses Associated With COVID-19 in MauritiusLaurent Musango0Ajoy Nundoochan1Joses Muthuri Kirigia2World Health Organization, Country Office for Mauritius, Port Louis, MauritiusWorld Health Organization, Country Office for Mauritius, Port Louis, MauritiusAfrican Sustainable Development Research Consortium (ASDRC), Nairobi, KenyaBackground: Mauritius along with other 12 countries in the African Region was identified at the early start of the COVID-19 pandemic as being at high risk due to high volume of international travel, high prevalence of non-communicable diseases and co-morbidities, high population density and significant share of population over 60 years (16%). The objective of this study was to estimate the total discounted money value of human life losses (TDMVCLMAURITIUS) associated with COVID-19 in Mauritius.Methods: The human capital approach (HCA) was used to estimate the TDMVCLMAURITIUS of the 10 human life losses linked with COVID-19 in Mauritius as of 16 October 2020. The HCA model was estimated with the national life expectancy of 75.51 years and a discount rate of 3%. A sensitivity analysis was performed assuming (a) 5 and 10% discount rates, and (b) the average world life expectancy of 73.2 years, and the world highest life expectancy of 88.17 years.Results: The money value of human lives lost to COVID-19, at a discounted rate of 3%, had an estimated TDMVCLMAURITIUS of Int$ 3,120,689, and an average of Int$ 312,069 per human life lost. Approximately 74% of the TDMVCLMAURITIUS accrued to persons aged between 20 and 59 years. Reanalysis of the model with 5 and 10% discount rates, holding national life expectancy constant, reduced the TDMVCLMAURITIUS by 19.0 and 45.5%, respectively. Application of the average world life expectancy at 3% discount rate reduced TDMVCLMAURITIUS by 13%; and use of the world highest life expectancy at 3% discount rate increased TDMVCLMAURITIUS by 50%.Conclusions: The average discounted money value per human life loss associated with COVID-19 is 12-fold the per capita GDP for Mauritius. All measures implemented to prevent widespread community transmission of COVID-19 may have saved the country 837 human lives worth Int$258,080,991. This evidence, conjointly with human rights arguments, calls for increased investments to bridge the existing gaps for achieving universal health coverage by 2030.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.604394/fullcoronavirusCOVID-19gross domestic product (GDP)human capital approach (HCA)value of human life |
| spellingShingle | Laurent Musango Ajoy Nundoochan Joses Muthuri Kirigia The Discounted Money Value of Human Life Losses Associated With COVID-19 in Mauritius Frontiers in Public Health coronavirus COVID-19 gross domestic product (GDP) human capital approach (HCA) value of human life |
| title | The Discounted Money Value of Human Life Losses Associated With COVID-19 in Mauritius |
| title_full | The Discounted Money Value of Human Life Losses Associated With COVID-19 in Mauritius |
| title_fullStr | The Discounted Money Value of Human Life Losses Associated With COVID-19 in Mauritius |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Discounted Money Value of Human Life Losses Associated With COVID-19 in Mauritius |
| title_short | The Discounted Money Value of Human Life Losses Associated With COVID-19 in Mauritius |
| title_sort | discounted money value of human life losses associated with covid 19 in mauritius |
| topic | coronavirus COVID-19 gross domestic product (GDP) human capital approach (HCA) value of human life |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.604394/full |
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