All services regarding
Mozambique Health are provided by the government's National Health Service.
The army bases have arranged their own health posts and two hospitals although traditional healers continue to play a major role in healing the Mozambicans. All medical products are compulsorily registered with the Ministry of Health. Due to shortage of capital, Mozambique is entirely dependent on foreign donors for its drug requirements. The years of 1985 to 1995, had only 39% of the population had the benefit of acquiring health care services.
In 1993 the situation improved and one doctor was allotted for 36,225 people. In 1997, immunization was done by particular section of the people. These government vaccination costs nothing. The statistics are as follows:
- Tuberculosis - 84%
- diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus - 61%
- polio - 61%
- Measles - 70%.
Since 1982, Mozambique had children who suffered with various health problems. War was devastating enough to close down 48% of the primary care network. The war accounted for almost 500,000 childhood deaths.
At the end of 2001, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS increased and was estimated at 1.1 million that included 13% of the adult population. That year death due to AIDS was estimated at 60,000. Henceforth Mozambique government has taken up certain precautions for the tourists visiting this land. These precautionary measures include:
- Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is compulsory from travelers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas or the vaccination would be given there in Mozambique hospital.
- Malaria: P. falciparum exists in through out the year in the Mozambique. Prophylaxis: mefloquine is the antidote recommended for the resistance of this disease.
- It is advisable that visitors should take precautions against diseases like typhoid, bilharzias, hepatitis and cholera specially and AIDS/HIV is visibly prevalent in Mozambique.
Mozambique Health is mainly threatened by unsanitary and unsafe water. Hospital facilities are not up to the mark and very far from the major cities of Maputo and Beira.
For more information on
Mozambique Health, please see the following links:
