Botswana Expat Health Insurance
Botswana, or as it’s officially known, the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country located on the Southern African Continent. Botswana shares its borders with South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west and north, to the northeast Zimbabwe. The terrain of Botswana is generally flat, with up to 70 percent of the 581,730 square kilometre country being covered by the Kalahari Desert. The capital city is Gaborone, the official language is English, the population is estimated at 2.029 million people and, Setswana and the currency is the Pula (BWP).
Botswana gained it’s independence from the Untied Kingdom on the 30th of September 1966. The government is now a representative democracy and the country is officially a Republic. The President of Botswana is both the head of state and the head of government. Botswana is divided into 16 administrative districts which are further divided into ten rural districts and six urban districts.
According to CIA 2010 estimates, Botswana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at US$28.49 billion representing a real growth rate of 8.6 percent on the previous year, and giving the country a per capita earning of US$14,000. According to 2009 figures agriculture accounted of 2.3 percent of GDP, where as industry and services accounted for 45.8 percent and 51.9 percent repetitively. The labour force in 2007 consisted of 685,300 employees. That same year the unemployment rate was 7.5 percent. In 2003 it was estimated that 30 percent of the population of Botswana live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 per day. The total expenditure on health care, as a percentage of GDP, in 2009 was 10.3 percent. This accounts for a per capita spending of US$1,341.
Botswana Healthcare System
The Ministry of Health has overall responsibility for the health care system of Botswana. Health care services are delivered through a network of clinics, mobile health services, health posts and primary hospitals. Currently there is a medical officer in each health region of the country. There are two private hospitals, one in Gaborone, which is under the ownership of the Botswana Development Corporation and local investors, and one in Francistown. The Gaborone facility boasts top class medical equipment and services. For a list of hospitals and contact details you can log on to the Botswana Ministry of Health web-site.
Currently in Botswana there are 12 district hospitals, 17 primary hospitals, 3 referral hospitals, 330 health posts, 222 clinics and, 740 mobile stops and 23 district health teams. Medical facilities in Botswana are considered to be the best within Africa, offering some of the highest standard services available on the continent. Medical officers in Botswana work in conjunction with US and European doctors to provide the best services and facilities.
Patients avail of government subsidized rates in government run hospitals throughout the country. There are few clinics that remain open 24 hours a day so access may be limited in some areas. Medical facilities, while considered good in urban areas, can be limited in rural areas, therefore it is imperative that you purchases comprehensive medical insurance that covers medical evacuation before you travel. Individuals receiving Outpatient treatments must make up-front cash payments in order to access medical services.
Before travelling to Botswana you should seriously consider a consultation with a travel health care professional to ensure all routine vaccinations are up-date and to be advised on any non-routine vaccinations that you should consider inoculating yourself against. Currently mobile clinics travel within the country to promote awareness campaigns to fight against disease such as Polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, malaria, HIV/AIDS etc. According to CIA the likelihood of contracting bacterial diarrhoea, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B from either contaminated food or water is high. There is a high threat of contracting malaria during your stay in the country. You should exercise preventative measures such as wearing insect repellent, long pants and sleeves especially during dusk and dawn. If possible you should sleep in air-conditioned rooms and always use bed-nets.
According to 2011 estimates the birth rate was set at 22.31 births per 1,000 inhabitants while the death rate was 10.57 per 1,000 inhabitants. The total median age was 22.3 years. The infant mortality rate was 11.4 deaths per 1,000 live births while the average life expectancy from birth was 58.78 for males and 57.3 years for females, the total fertility rate was 2.5 children per woman that same year. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS was 24.8 percent in 2009 which accounts for some 320,000 people living with the disease in Botswana. There were 5,800 HIV/AIDS related deaths in 2009.
There have been sporadic outbreaks of anthrax among wild animals. You should avoid touching dead animals and stay up-to-date with local park official advice. Seek medical advice immediately if you have come into contact with anthrax. There is a high risk of tick bites while camping or walking in rural areas.
Aggravated attacks specifically targeting tourists are rare however petty and violent crime rates are increasing. The worst affect areas are Gaborone, Francistown and Maun. Burglaries perpetrated by armed gangs are also on the rise. There have been a number of reported car-jacking incidents by four by four vehicles if you should be attacked do not offer any resistance. Parked care have been targeted, use your common sense and remove all items from view within your car, keep doors locked and windows closed.
Game reserves and tourist areas are generally considered safe but animals can be unpredictable, one should thread carefully and stay mindful of warden’s advice and park regulations. Avoid bathing in rivers or lakes due to the danger of water borne disease and danger from wildlife.
The road network in Botswana is considered good as most are tarmac-covered. Standards of driving may not be on par with western countries, with a large portion of drivers ignoring road safety rules. There is a high volume of road accidents that can be directly attributed to speeding and drink driving. Be aware that wildlife and stray animals pose a serious danger on rural roads particularly at night.
Botswana Expat Health Insurance
Given the state of healthcare in Botswana, expat health insurance plans are of the utmost importance. Many medical treatments may be unavailable within Botswana’s healthcare system, necessitating the emergency medical evacuation of the patient to the nearest capable medical center, which will probably be outside of Botswana. Expat health insurance can provide coverage for these and other emergency medical situations, ensuring you have the best protection for both your health and personal finances.
Global Health Insurance can provide professional assistance for you and all your health care needs if you decide to travel in Botswana. Expat health insurance plans we work with may be tailor made polices to cover a plethora of services from repatriation, maternity, dental and many more. Call our team of world wide representatives today to discuss, free of charge, the best international health insurance options available to you or your group.
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