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Angola Expat Health Insurance

Angola is a landlocked country located in south-central Africa and bordered by Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. Previously a colony of Portugal, Angola's culture is now an interesting mix of Portuguese culture and the native Bantu culture. Over half the population is estimated to have remained Roman Catholic while many of its 19 million people are also fluent in Portuguese. Angola is divided into eighteen provinces and 163 municipalities, and operates under a presidential republic system in which the President is the head of state, head of government, and head of a multi-party system. After Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975, two liberation movements, the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for the total Independence of Angola (UNITA) began a violent civil war that lasted until 1992, destroying much of the country's infrastructure, economy, public administration, and morale, along with the deaths of over 500,000 people. Fortunately, Angola's economy has since recovered tremendously, with the world's greatest annual GDP (11.1%) from 2001-2010. Rich in natural reserves, 60% of Angola's revenue comes from the export of oil and diamonds. Luanda is the capital city, home to 1/3 of Angola's economic activities. There is also much social inequality in Angola.

Crime is a grave, widespread issue all across Angola. Along with petty theft, some motorcyclists also drive by pedestrians and attack them violently. The areas of Cabinda and Lunda North and South provinces are especially dangerous. Cabinda has been the site of a many violent attacks on expatriates, resulting in rape, robbery, and murder. Diamonds are produced in Lunda North and South areas and thus foreigners are especially unwelcome there. Visitors should also avoid Roque Santeiro and Rocha Pinto, and travel in front of the US Embassy only by vehicle. Tourists should exercise caution when driving in Angola, as roads have still not been fully repaired since the civil war. Roads are poorly marked (many drivers do not obey the signage even when it does exist) and often have large potholes. Areas with suspected landmines are marked, and travelers should also make sure not to stray from the main roads in case of unmarked landmines. At police checkpoints in Angola, some police may unfortunately request payment as fines or bribes for a supposed crime. Public transport is limited in Angola, with “candongueiros” or “taxistas”, the vans soliciting visitors, being driven by inexperienced drivers at high speeds, frequently resulting in accidents.

Angola Healthcare System

Before traveling to Angola, visitors should make sure they have had vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Polio, Yellow Fever, Rabies, Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), and Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DPT). Expatriates will be required to present proof of their yellow fever vaccination at the airport; without your yellow fever vaccine card, you will be given the option to get the vaccine at the airport (for a fee), or to depart Angola immediately on the next flight. Malaria is a serious risk in Angola; visitors should be prepared with insect repellent, anti-malaria pills, and protective clothing. These will also be helpful to protect against the other diseases that Central African insects carry, such as dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, and ochocerciasis. It is important to note that African trypanosomiasis (commonly known as African sleeping sickness) is an epidemic in Angola and is also transmitted through insects.. Water is not always clean or safe to drink; tourists should bring diarrhea medicine, iodine or water purifying tablets, and should also take care to not swim in water so as to not contract diseases such as schistosomiasis. Visitors are also advised not to enter any caves where bats may live, as they can spread diseases such as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, rabies, and histoplasmosis. Between October 2004 and July 2005, the biggest outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever ever recorded killed 329 people out of the 374 people who contracted the disease. Hygiene is extremely important, as tuberculosis rates in Angola are high, and even though HIV rates are relatively low, people traveling from other Central African countries may be infected.

With a life expectancy of 52 years of age and 195 deaths per 1000 live births, Angola's life expectancy and infant mortality rates are among the lowest in the world. The adult mortality rate is also quite high; 364 deaths per 1000 adults, making it double the global average. The maternal mortality rate is 610 women per 100,000 live births (also over double the global average). 20 out of 1000 adults have HIV, while 389 people per 100,000 people have tuberculosis. Being one of the poorest countries in the world, malnutrition rates are high; at least 30% of children under five underweight. Only 14% of the population has access to piped water, and solid waste treatment systems are insufficient throughout the country, including in medical institutions.

Due to the destruction of much of the infrastructure from the civil wars (65% of the already inadequate medical institutions were destroyed), Angola's healthcare system is greatly in need of mass funding; however, only 2% of public expenditure is allotted for healthcare, while only 4.6% of the GDP is allocated for healthcare. Doctors are often not well trained as after the civil war, not even one third of the country's children attended school. Thus, much of the population is unskilled and unable to be employed. There are only 5 doctors per 1000 people, along with a shortage of nurses. 40% of the population do not have access to healthcare, as healthcare in rural areas is virtually non-existent because 70% of the doctors are located in the capital city of Luanda. Fortunately, there are some competent doctors as many Cuban physicians have come to Angola to work. The government has also built 5 universities and 45 specialized training schools, but it is likely that the positive effects of this rebuilding will not be seen until far in the future. Thus, the underfunded hospitals continue to be ill equipped and far below international standards. Dispensaries are also sub-par; they are not only scarce in number, but also stock only the most basic of medicines, which are generally not regularly restocked. Emergency services are virtually nonexistent, and as no funding goes to emergency preparedness planning, it is likely that this sector of the healthcare system will also not improve anytime soon. Some of the hospitals in Angola are the Alvalade Clinic, Climed Clinic, and Clinica Clidopa (all located in Luanda). There are also relatively new clinics in Lubango and Matala. These public clinics are free, but are always crowded and patients will have to suffer through long waiting times, sometimes in the crowd outside the clinic in the heat. Private medical facilities are of a better standard than their public counterparts, but doctors will require cash payment up front, and in case the necessary treatment or equipment is not available, medical evacuation will be needed (most likely to South Africa, which has adequate healthcare services).

Angola Expat Health Insurance

As an expatriates, if you are traveling to Angola, expat health insurance plans are a worthwhile investment to protect your health while you are there. As expat health insurance policies are widely accepted around the world, it means in an emergency an expatriate would have easy access to private health care facilities in Angola and would also be covered for the high costs relative to public facilities. Furthermore, in case an expatriate requires serious medical treatment that is unavailable in Angolan hospitals, expatriates will be covered for expenses relating to medical transportation and evacuation. Tourists are highly recommended to have protective medical insurance in the event of anything unexpected and unfortunate happening, due to the issues of crime, violence, and rundown infrastructure in Angola, compacted by a severely inadequate healthcare system. For example, while you may be covered by an insurance policy in your home country, it may not cover bills for hospital visits or medical evacuations in a foreign country like Angola, expat health insurance policies can provide you this extended coverage while abroad.

Global Health Insurance can offer free, professional insurance advice for people living or working in foreign countries like Angola. Expat Health Insurance policies that we work with offer an extensive variety of benefits, including options for dental maternity, transportation and medical evacuations, as well as inpatient treatment. Please contact us today for a free consultation on international health insurance.

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