Health in the Central African Republic

Mothers and babies aged between 0 and 5 years lining up in a health post in 2008 at Begoua, a district of Bangui, waiting for the two drops of the oral polio vaccine that will prevent paralysis and death. Despite the progress over the past few years, medical care remains both costly and inaccessible for many families across the Central African Republic. Vaccination coverage for preventable diseases stands at less than 52% and one child in five does not live past five years of age.

In the Central African Republic, mobile crews treat local epidemic diseases, conduct vaccination and inoculation campaigns, and enforce local health regulations. They conduct research on sleeping sickness, malaria, and other tropical diseases and devise prophylactic methods best suited to the rural population.

Health infrastructure

In 2004, it was estimated that there were fewer than 3 physicians and 9 nurses per 100,000 people. In 2000, 60 percent of the population had access to safe drinking water and 31% had adequate sanitation.

Health status

Life expectancy

The 2014 CIA estimated average life expectancy in the Central African Republic was 51.81 years.^[1]

Endemic diseases

The most common diseases are bilharziasis, leprosy, malaria, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis and yaws. The Central African Republic is a yellow fever endemic zone country. The Pasteur Institute at Bangui cooperates actively with vaccination campaigns. All medicine, antibiotics, and vaccine imports must be authorized by the Ministry of Health.

Maternal and child healthcare

As of 1999, the immunization rates for children up to one year old were as follows: diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, 33 percent and measles, 39%.

The 2010 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Central African Republic is 850. This is compared with 1570.4 in 2008 and 1757.1 in 1990. The under 5 mortality rate, per 1,000 births is 172 and the neonatal mortality as a percentage of under 5's mortality is 26. In the Central African Republic the number of midwives per 1,000 live births is 3 and the lifetime risk of death for pregnant women 1 in 27.^[2]

HIV/AIDS

The Central African Republic is one of several African nations with a high incidence of AIDS. The HIV/AIDS prevalence was 13.50 per 100 adults in 2003. As of 2004, there were approximately 260,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country. There were an estimated 23,000 deaths from AIDS in 2003. This number dropped to 13,000 deaths from HIV / AIDS in 2007.^[3] and 11,000 in 2009.^[4] 160,000 people with HIV/AIDS were reported in 2007, and 140,000 in 2009.^[5]

References

External links

• The State of the World's Midwifery