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Republic of the Congo International Health Insurance / Healthcare System
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 The Republic
of the Congo, also widely known as Congo-Brazzaville, is a country
located in Western Africa. The country is bordered by Gabon,
Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of
the Congo, and Angola. The Republic of the Congo has a population
of 4.24 million people and a land area of 342,000 square
kilometers. The country’s population is largely urbanized.
Tropical jungle, which is home to more than 400 mammal species,
covers almost half of the country's land and is virtually
uninhabited by people. 70 percent of the population resides in the
capital city Brazzaville, which is located in the south of the
country just 4 kilometers from Kinshasa, the capital city of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since independence from France in 1960, the Republic of the Congo
has experienced several coups and a two year civil war in 1997,
resulting from ethnic and political tensions in the country.
During the civil war, the capital city Brazzaville was severely
damaged. 10,000 people were killed and 810,000 people were
displaced. In March 2003, the Republic of the Congo signed a peace
agreement which lead to the cessation of civil war, however the
country continues to experience challenges relating to poverty and
refugees. Almost half of the country's 17,000 kilometers of road
infrastructure are no longer usable, making it difficult for
members of the population in rural areas to access cities.
Today the Republic of the Congo is in extreme poverty. In addition
to conflict, during the 1980s the country accumulated a lot of
debt due to a fall in petrol prices and mismanagement of the
economy. The country is unable to provide adequate access to basic
services including education, healthcare, water and sanitation.
However, with a relatively small population, arable land and
natural resources including oil and minerals, the Republic of the
Congo has the potential to develop a strong economy. Looking
forward, the Health System Development Project and the Poverty
Reduction Strategy has been implemented to promote international
funding to stabilize the economy and expand health care services.
The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, World Health
Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières and the United Nations,
among other organizations, have largely supported the Republic of
the Congo with funding to improve access to adequate health care,
water and sanitation in the country.
Health care facilities and resources are severely lacking in the
Republic of the Congo. Over half of the hospital buildings were
destroyed during the civil war. Hospitals are challenged by
shortages in health care personnel, facilities, medical supplies,
and electricity supply in rural areas. Under the Health System
Development Project, the five year plan will expand health care
services by establishing a human resources system and supplying
health care centers with essential medical equipment and
pharmaceutical supplies. Health care services and hospitals in the
Republic of the Congo are predominantly located in the urban areas
of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, the country's second largest
city. Hospitals in Brazzaville include the Brazzaville Hospital,
Cabinet Medical Cogemo, Netcare Congo Clinic and the Securex
Hospital. In Pointe-Noire, the Loandjili hospital is the largest
facility in the area.
Lack of access to quality health care in the Republic of the Congo
has resulted in a high prevalence of communicable diseases
including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria. Having one of the
highest prevalence rates in the world, HIV/AIDS puts a large
burden on the Congo-Brazzaville health care system. HIV/AIDS in
the Republic of the Congo is higher among females and is the main
cause of death among those aged between 15 and 49; transmitted
predominantly via sexual intercourse, sexual violence, from mother
to child, and contaminated blood supplies. Malaria is widespread
in the country, contributing to one third of the country's
morbidity rates.
Outbreaks of infectious diseases are common in the Republic of the
Congo. An outbreak of poliomyelitis killed 58 people in 2010 and
caused 120 cases of acute flaccid paralysis. It is highly
important that expats seek immediate medical attention if symptoms
of high fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting are
persistent. Expats and travellers to the Republic of the Congo
should receive vaccinations against hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow
fever, meningococcus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, rabies, measles
mumps and rubella, and tetanus-diphtheria.
The Republic of the Congo has a very high maternal and infant
mortality rate. Malnutrition affects approximately 30 percent of
children under the age of five, delaying growth and making them
susceptible to communicable diseases. Lack of drinking water and
poor hygiene lead to intestinal infections. The main causes of
death for children under the age of five include diseases such as
malaria, rickets, respiratory infections, and dysentery. In 2007,
the Government of Congo made anti-malarial treatment free for
pregnant women and children under the age of five. In 2008,
mosquito nets were distributed to families living in areas largely
affected by malaria. In 2011, the Government of Congo made
caesarian sections and other obstetric procedures free within
public hospitals, providing hospitals with the equipment and
pharmaceutical supplies required to carry out the interventions.
Seasonal flooding is a natural hazard in the Republic of the
Congo, particularly affecting the Brazzaville region, which is
located directly beside the Congo River Basin. Due to an
ineffective drainage system, floods in Congo-Brazzaville typically
occur during the rainy season between the months of September to
January. Torrential rain and flooding in and around Brazzaville
has lead to consequential landslides, displacing individuals and
causing injury and death. In 2006, floods in Brazzaville displaced
more than 5000 residents and killed six people.
Flooding in the Congo-Brazzaville also increases health risks.
With inadequate storm water drainage in the country, contaminated
water enters the water supply leading to outbreaks of water borne
diseases in the country. The Government of Congo aims to improve
the situation by 2015, through the implementation of a sustainable
urban drainage system, funded by the African Water Facility. The
project will improve water supply, sanitation and storm water
drainage in urban areas of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire. Safe
drinking and strict hygiene measures should be practiced when
visiting Congo-Brazzaville.
In the event of a serious illness or accident, emergency
evacuation to a hospital in South Africa will be required to
receive the adequate level of medical care. Air transportation, as
well as medical services are highly expensive. As such, expats are
highly recommended to obtain an international health insurance
policy that includes emergency evacuation and repatriation as well
as worldwide medical coverage.
Emergency protocols should be adopted by residents during the
event of an accident, serious illness or criminal offense. The
emergency contact number in the Republic of the Congo is
242-06-665-4804. It is important to note however that emergency
services in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire are very limited and are
virtually non existent outside of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire.
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Republic of the Congo International Health Insurance |
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For more information about the Republic of the Congo international medical
insurance plans, or to receive a free Republic of the Congo
International Health Insurance Quote, please contact one of our
dedicated advisers today.
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