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Comoros Expat Health Insurance

The Union of the Comoros is an archipelago nation consisting of three main islands – Grande Comore, Mohéli and Anjouan with its capital city Moroni located on Grande Comore. Comoros is situated in the Indian Ocean northwest of Madagascar and to the northeast of Mozambique. At just 1,862 square kilometers, Comoros is by size the third smallest African nation, although its population is estimated at 800,000 people which make it one of the most densely populated African states. A French colony until 1975, Comoros has experienced political, economic and social instability since independence and there have been several attempts to overthrow the government. The Comoros has three official languages: Comorian, French and Arabic and culturally the islands have retained a native, Arabic and French influence. Agriculture is the leading sector in the national economy with approximately 40 percent of the workforce employed in fishing, hunting or forestry. Comoros is one of the poorest countries in the world and almost half of the population lives under the international poverty line of US$1.25 per day.

Comoros Health Care and Insurance

Celebrations following independence in 1975 were short lived as it quickly became apparent that the new government was unable to maintain adequate public services. Large numbers of French nationals departed and this subsequent loss of knowledge and experience resulted in many government departments struggling to meet the basic needs of the population. The public health system encountered significant challenges and few experienced doctors, nurses and physicians were present to treat patients. Health care services to this day remain inadequate and limited throughout the islands. There is no national health insurance scheme and few private health insurance companies operate in Comoros. Expatriates and short term travelers to Comoros should be aware that medical facilities are basic and a limited range of treatments is available. Serious illness would require medical evacuation to South Africa; therefore, it is imperative that all foreign nationals purchase full and comprehensive international Comoros health insurance before their arrival in the country.

Health centers and hospitals are located sporadically throughout the Comoros. As the majority of the population is agricultural workers who reside outside the larger cities and towns, many medical facilities are located outside of the main urban areas. The El Maarouf hospital is Comoros’ largest medical facility and it is located in the capital city of Moroni. Unsurprisingly, the El Maarouf is limited in the services it can provide to patients. Complicated surgeries and specialized treatment are unavailable and the situation is compounded by a lack of medical personnel, equipment and medicines. A small number of private clinics exist although they offer only marginally better treatment at an increased cost. Overall poverty levels within the country have meant that few people can afford treatment at private health facilities. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Caritas operate a network of clinics throughout urban and rural areas and are capable of providing services such as primary health care, immunization, family planning and treatment of diseases such as malaria. Caritas and other NGOs operating in Comoros rely on international funding to continue operating in the country. Given the unstable situation in the Comoros, this funding can fluctuate and affect the provision of basis services.

Comoros Travel Insurance Concerns

Comoros is a very poor country with a health system that is indicative of the nation’s perilous situation. A number of health statistics accurately portray the problems faced by the country’s citizens. The infant mortality rate is 62.63 deaths per 1,000 live births. This high figure ranks Comoros in the top 30 countries in the world. Life expectancy at birth is low at just 61 years for males and 66 years for females. Literacy levels are low with just 55 percent of citizens aged 15 and over being able to read and write. Approximately 3.2 percent of national GDP is spent on health care and this miniscule figure fails to provide sufficient funding to help improve national health levels. The beleaguered government has had some positive news in that it has been successful in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. As of 2009, the adult prevalence rate of 0.1 percent is far below the regional average. Travelers and expatriates to Comoros should be aware of the health concerns throughout the country and they are advised to be in possession of a Comoros health insurance policy for the duration of their time there.

A number of diseases are prevalent to Comoros and expatriates and travelers should seek advice from a travel health specialist at least four weeks prior to arrival in the country. Vaccinations against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid and Malaria are advised. Malaria is prevalent throughout the islands and precautions such as using anti-malarial drugs, insect repellant and wearing long sleeved clothing after dark will help reduce the risk of contracting this disease. Other diseases transmitted by insect bites include chikungunya, filariasis, onchocerciasis (river blindness) and leishmaniasis. Access to clean and safe drinking water can be a problem and poor sanitation levels can lead to outbreaks of Cholera. Visitors are advised to use bottled water at all times and maintain good levels of hygiene.

There is an ongoing threat of political instability and large crowds or demonstrations should be avoided. Crime levels across the three main islands of the Comoros are relatively low although incidents of pick pocketing and mugging do occur from time to time. Valuables, travel documents and cash should be safeguarded in hotels where possible. Tourist facilities are quite basic and telecommunications infrastructure remains intermittent. Travel by boat is the most convenient form of transport between the islands and sometimes ferries will travel when overloaded or in poor condition and in August 2011 a ferry capsized resulting in the deaths of 50 people. Comoros is an Islamic country and local traditions, customs and laws should be respected at all times.

Comoros Expat Health Insurance

Health standards in Comoros are poor with many advanced or specialist treatments not available. In the event of a serious medical emergency, air evacuation to a country with state of the art facilities will probably be necessary given the state of healthcare in Comoros. Expat health insurance can afford you peace of mind, as it can ensure you and your family have sufficient protection against all possible medical situations. Regardless of whether you are relocating to or visiting Comoros, Global Health International can assist you, free of charge, through our various products and services that offer you and your family complete protection. For more information on Comoros expat health insurance or international health insurance plans, please contact a Global Health International advisor today.