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Central african republic international health insurance / healthcare system
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 The Central
African Republic, also known colloquially as the CAR, is a
landlocked country on the African continent which shares borders
with Sudan, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, and Cameroon. Approximately the same size as France,
the Central African Republic has a total land mass of 623,000
square kilometers and an approximate population of 4.4 million
people. The Central African Republic has a tropical climate with
the northern part of the country affected by hot, dry and dusty
harmattan winds. Daily life in the Central African Republic is a
vibrant mix of arts, crafts, music and cultural diversity and the
country boasts more than 80 different ethnic groups. A former
French colony, the Central African Republic achieved independence
in 1960. Sangho is spoken by the majority of people and is the
national language although French is the official language used by
the government and in schools.
Following independence, decades of internal conflict and
mismanagement by self-serving Presidents diverted much needed
funds away from the delivery of public services, including
healthcare. As a result, the government’s ability to deliver and
coordinate health care was severely hampered and the effects of
which remain to this day. There are deficiencies in every area of
the Central African Republic’s heath sector including a lack of
trained medical personnel, infrastructure, equipment, medicines
and financial resources that could help improve the situation.
Poverty is widespread and approximately 60 percent of the
population lives below the international poverty line.
Consequently, the Central African Republic is listed in 179th
place out of 182 countries on the Human Development Index.
Approximately 73 percent of the population lives 10 kilometers or
further from their local medical center. The delivery of health
care is further hampered by the lack of medical professionals with
only one doctor for every 3,000 people and one nurse for every
1,000. A country the size of the Central African Republic requires
six times this number of medical personnel to efficiently run its
health care system.
Limited availability of health care has had a devastating effect
on the poorest and most isolated members of the population. In
excess of 10 percent of infants die during childbirth or shortly
after. Malnutrition and poor sanitation result in almost 20
percent of children dying before the age of five. The maternal
mortality rate is particularly high at 102 per 10,000 births when
compared to its neighbor Sudan which is 45 per 10,000 births. The
average life expectancy at birth for both males and females is 43
years. The Central African Republic has the highest HIV/AIDS
infection rates in the region with 15 percent of the population
infected by the disease. Malaria remains the primary cause of
premature death and accounts for 13.8 percent of all deaths.
The global financial crisis that began in 2008 has had an adverse
affect on the funding of health care in the Central African
Republic. The percentage of GDP allocated to health care has
dropped from 5.1 percent in 2006 to 1.5 percent in 2010. The
government now faces two problems as decreases in both
international donations and GDP figures compound the difficulties
faced in providing the required finance to develop a stable health
care system. Internal political and economic instability means the
government is now heavily reliant on financial assistance from
international donors and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Medical facilities in the Central African Republic are extremely
limited and the quality of healthcare available is unreliable and
falls considerably short of international standards. There are
three general hospitals in the capital Bangui, a pediatrics
hospital and a small number of private clinics. There are no
medical emergency services available. Private clinics operated by
missionaries and NGOs are capable of providing a higher level of
care but these facilities are generally inaccessible to the
majority of the population. Expatriates and travelers to the
Central African Republic are advised to use private healthcare
facilities should they require medical attention. Comprehensive
international medical insurance, including specific cover for
emergency evacuation and repatriation, is highly recommended for
expatriates and short term travelers visiting the Central African
Republic.
Tourist sites such as the Dzanga-Sangha national park, Boali
waterfalls and the tropical rainforests in the south of country
are increasingly becoming popular visiting attractions, with large
numbers of tourists now traveling annually to the Central African
Republic. Tourists and other short term visitors are advised to
seek medical advice at least four weeks before traveling. The
Routine vaccination plus vaccinations for Hepatitis, Typhoid,
Yellow Fever, Rabies and Cholera are advised. Hepatitis and
Malaria are two of the country’s biggest health concerns and both
are widespread at all times of the year. Meningitis, measles and
polio are at epidemic levels in all areas of the country. Rabies
can prove fatal if treatment is not administered within ten days
of contact with the infected animal. Post bite treatments for
Rabies may not be available in some areas of the Central African
Republic meaning evacuation to a medical center is essential.
Mains tap water is untreated and a number of water borne diseases
are common. Travelers are advised to use bottled water at all
times and to avoid freshwater areas.
There is an extremely high risk of catching disease passed on
through bites from mosquitoes and other insects in the Central
African Republic. Malaria, Dengue Fever, River fever, Yellow
fever, leshmaniasis, filariasis, onchoceriasis (river blindness)
and Chikungunya are all prevalent. Symptoms for each include
headaches, fever, nausea and sore limbs. Standard precautions such
as wearing long sleeve trousers and shirts, using insect repellant
spray and using disinfected bed nets at night can help reduce the
risk of insect bites. Undertaking a course of anti-malaria drugs
during and after your visit to the Central African Republic is
strongly recommended.
Although general crime levels in the Central African Republic have
fallen in recent years, crime remains a major problem in the
capital city Bangui. Petty theft and crimes of opportunity are
common with travelers specifically targeted at markets and other
areas frequented by tourists. The Embassy of the United States and
the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth Office both advise against
all but necessary travel to the following provinces: Vakaga,
Bamingui-Bangoran, Mbomou & Haut Mbomou, Ouham, Ouham-Péndé,
Nana-Gribizi and Haute-Kotto. Visitors wishing to visit national
parks and game reserves are advised to book their trip with a
local travel agent, to travel as part of a group and to remain in
close proximity to the group at all times. Due to a shortage of
police vehicles and fuel, it may take a long time for the police
to be notified and to arrive at the scene of a crime or accident.
Short term travelers are urged to remain vigilant and to be aware
of their surroundings at all times.
All visitors to the Central African Republic should be aware that
medical facilities in the country are far below international
standards. In the event of a serious accident or illness,
evacuation to a country with modern facilities is necessary.
Individual travelers, families and groups visiting the Central
African Republic should ensure they are sufficiently covered for
all possible medical circumstances, including medical evacuation.
Given how expensive medical evacuation can end up being and the healthcare facilities available in the central african republic, international health insurance may prove the most suitable option.
For more information about the various global health
insurance products and services
Globalsurance can offer, please
contact one of our dedicated advisers today.
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