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Ivory Coast Expat Health Insurance

The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, also known as the Ivory Coast, is a coastal country on the West African continent. The country shares its borders to the south with the Gulf of Guinea, to the west with Liberia and Guinea, to the North Mali and Burkina Faso, and to the east with Ghana. The capital of the Ivory Coast is Yamoussoukro, while the largest city is Abidjan. The official language is French and the local currency is the West African CFA franc.

Côte d'Ivoire has a population of 20.617 million people who are dispersed over a land area of 322,460 square kilometers. Formerly a French Colony, the Ivory Coast gained independence from France on the 7th of August 1960. Governance is in the form of a Presentational Republic. In 1999 a military coup was successful in overthrowing the government. Since 2003 the country has been ravaged by political turmoil as a result of land reforms and grounds for citizenship, which remain unresolved issues.

In April 2011 the ruling President Gbagbo was removed from office by Ouattara. Ouattara had the support of the UN and French troops in his fight for the Presidential office. UN and French troops are still present in the country to aid the transition process.

Gross Domestic Product for 2010 was US$ 22.82 billion; the economy is experiencing positive growth at a rate of 2.6 percent. That same year the nation’s per capita earning was US$ 1,800. The labor force consisted of 7.617 million people, while Public debt was 63.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. The percentage of the population engaged in the agricultural sector was 28.2 percent, while 21.3 and 50.6 were engaged in industry and services respectively.

Cote d’Ivoire’s is one of the largest exporters of cocoa beans in the world. Coffee and palm oil are also produced for export and are the top revenue earners. Cote d’Ivoire is also a major exporter of gold. The country experiences regular power cuts which hampers basic economic activities.

Ivory Coast Healthcare System

The total Ivorian per capita spending on health care services is US$ 86. The total health care expenditure as a percentage of GDP was 5.1 percent. The Ministry of Health has overall responsibility for the health care system in Cote d’Ivoire. Reforms, such as decentralization of the national health care system, have been put in place; however, progress is slow and the reform process is proving to be more complex than initially envisioned. This is mainly due to insufficient training at national and sub-national level.

There are a number of privately operated medical and dental facilities in Abidjan that can provide adequate health care services to expatriates within the Ivory Coast. However, standards are not on par with western countries. Should you need to visit a doctor be aware that few physicians can speak English. If you are taking any prescription medications you should bring a sufficient supply with you to last the duration of your stay as it may not be possible to find the exact product in Cote d’Ivoire. Health care treatment is expensive and not always guaranteed.

Medical care outside the capital is extremely limited. One should carry a first aid kit and purchase comprehensive international medical insurance that covers the cost of transportation and evacuation if necessary. In 2006 avian influenza was confirmed in animals in the Cote d’Ivoire. No human infections have been recorded.

In January 2011 in the central and northern districts of Broumi, Katiola, Seguela and Mankono there was an outbreak of yellow fever. In order to enter the country you will need to be in possession of a yellow fever vaccination certificate. As a result of the outbreak the Ministry of health conducted a wide spread vaccination program in the affected areas. Cholera and measles have been reported in capital and its surrounding areas; therefore, it is imperative that before you travel to the country you consult with a travel medical care professional to ensure that all routine and non-routine vaccinations are up-to-date.

Malaria is common throughout the Ivory Coast. Medication is available to prevent the disease even though it is not 100 percent effective. Common sense methods of protection such as wearing long sleeves and long trousers, sleeping in air conditioned rooms and using bed-nets are recommended as preventive measures. You are advised to only drink boiled or bottled water. Seek medical attention immediately if you contract diarrhea.

According to estimates, the population of 21.5 million will experience a growth rate of 2.078 percent in 2011. Estimates for the birth rate for that same year are 30.95 births per 1,000 inhabitants while the death rate is estimates at 10.16 per 1,000 inhabitants. The infant mortality rate is set at 64.78 deaths per 1,000 live births, while the average life expectancy for males is 55.79 and females 57.81. The total fertility rate is expected to be 3.92 children born per woman. The net migration rate is expected to be 0 migrants per 1,000 people. The rate of urbanization is 51 percent of the total population. A 3.7 percent rate of urbanization is expected between 2010 and 2015. The adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS is 3.4 percent of the total population. There were 450,000 people living with the HIV/AIDS and 36,000 recorded deaths from the virus in 2009.

Due to the ongoing political tensions in Cote d’Ivoire all but essential travel is not advised. If you do travel to the country be aware that retaliatory attacks particularly against Western nationals are a constant danger. One should remain vigilant at all times and avoid unnecessary travel around Abidjan.

There are numerous roadblocks in operation throughout the country which can be erected at short notice. If possible remain indoors at night. It is highly recommended that you keep a stock of food and water to last several days in the event of widespread violence. You should remain indoors in such an event.

Airline carriers such as Air France, Middle East Airlines, and Brussels Airline etc have resumed their flights to the Cote D’Ivoire. However you should keep up-to-date with local news as this situation could change at any time depending on the political situation. Since February 2011 there have been restrictions to the access of cash due to international bank closures.

Ivory Coast Expat Health Insurance

If you are considering visiting Cote d’Ivoire, contact Global Health Insurance today to discuss the range of international health insurance policies that are available to you or your group. Depending on your circumstance during your time in the Ivory Coast, expat health insurance policies can be tailor made to suit all budgets and health care needs. To hear more about our current Ivory Coast expat health insurance offers and services, call today.