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Gambia Expat Health Insurance

The Gambia is situated on the West African coast and at just 11,000 square kilometers in size is the smallest country on the African mainland. Located within the territory of the Republic of Senegal, The Gambia comprises swathes of land on both banks of the Gambia River which flows through the country from East to West. An important shipping destination during the slave trade era, The Gambia was initially a Portuguese then British colony before independence was achieved in 1965. Gambians are known for their love of music and dance and their culture has retained strong influence from the many ethnic groups that have settled there. Agriculture is the dominant sector within the economy and it employs approximately 70 percent of the workforce and forms 30 percent of the country’s GDP. The Gambia is one of the poorest countries in Africa and it is thought that one third of the population live under the international poverty threshold.

The Gambia Health Care and Insurance

The Ministry of Health, on behalf of the national government, oversees the provision of health care in The Gambia with the aim of providing access to affordable health services for its citizens. Public and private health facilities are available although the standard of care and treatments they are able to provide are well below international standards. There are insufficient numbers of health personnel right across the sector and the government relies on overseas funding to assist it with the delivery of health care and other important public services. Expatriates, tourists and other short term travelers to The Gambia should be aware that medical facilities are basic and a limited range of treatments is available. Serious illness would require medical evacuation to a country with modern facilities; therefore, all foreign nationals are advised to purchase full and comprehensive international Gambia health insurance prior to their arrival in the country.

The health care system has been divided into three categories, namely primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary level health care predominantly focuses on providing basic out-patient services to those living in rural towns and villages and these facilities are usually staffed by a community health worker and a nurse. Secondary level health care is provided by a resident team of medical personnel who operate from health centers which can offer treatments such as minor surgery and some in-patient services. Tertiary level health care consists of the four national referral hospitals and NGO and privately operated clinics with the main referral hospital and a majority of privately run clinics located in the capital city Banjul. Private health facilities are capable of providing marginally better care than those in the public sector but at an increased cost. There is no national health insurance scheme in operation in The Gambia and while there are some private health insurance companies functioning, Gambian citizens are indifferent to the benefits of health insurance and few hold private health insurance policies.

The Gambia Travel Insurance Concerns

In the absence of a national health insurance scheme and an annual shortfall in the funding required to provide an effective public health system, medical facilities in The Gambia are considerably below what an expatriate or experienced traveler has come to expect. There is a shortage of specialist personnel in key areas of the health care system and long waiting times can be expected at most of the country’s facilities. The country’s pre-eminent facilities are located in the larger urban areas; facilities in rural areas are quite basic and regularly run out of basic drugs and medicines. Citizens of The Gambia and non-nationals alike are required to pay in cash for all services received at health facilities. It is therefore imperative that expatriates and tourists relocating to or visiting the country ensure they purchase a comprehensive The Gambia expat health insurance policy.

The Gambia’s close proximity to the equator provides it with a warm and humid climate year round. These warm conditions and poor sanitation levels result in a number of tropical diseases being prevalent throughout the country. A travel health professional should be consulted a minimum of four weeks before your arrival in The Gambia. Diseases such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, Malaria, Leishamaniasis, Filariasis, Relapsing Fever, Cholera, and Typhoid Fever are endemic and vaccinations for each are advised. There is a high risk of catching Malaria or other diseases transmitted by the bite of insects. To reduce this risk, you are advised to use anti-malarial drugs, insect repellant and to wear long sleeve clothing after dark. The spread of HIV/AIDS has not affected The Gambia as severely as some of its regional neighbors and in this regard its adult infection rate of 2 percent is low, although research suggests this will rise significantly within the next decade.

The Gambia Expat Health Insurance

Travelers, short term visitors and expatriates who, in the event of a medical emergency, wish to seek treatment at any health facility in the Gambia must pay in cash before a medical professional will provide a consultation. Medical standards throughout the country are low and specialist treatments and other complicated procedures are not available. Health facilities in rural areas in particular are poorly equipped, staffed and provisioned. Health facilities often reflect the developmental state of the country and it is no different in the Gambia, expat health insurance can ensure you and your travel partners have complete protection against all possible medical situations both for what basic health services are available locally as well as for treatment in the nearest center of medical excellence and the emergency medical transport all the way. Global Health International can assist you, free of charge, through the various international health policies that offer you invaluable peace of mind. For more information on The Gambia expat health insurance or international health insurance plans please contact a Global Health International advisor today.