Cape Verde Health Insurance

Situated in the Atlantic Ocean 570 kilometers off the coast of West Africa, the Republic of Cape Verde consists of ten islands covering a total land area of approximately 4,000 square kilometers. The current population of the country is estimated to be 516,000. Cape Verde was discovered by the Portuguese in the 15th Century and used the islands as an important gateway for the Atlantic slave trade. Droughts have been a common occurrence in the history of Cape Verde, resulting in the deaths of approximately 200,000 people and mass emigration. Emigration is so high that a recent study found that there are more individuals who have origins from Cape Verde that live in other countries around the world than those that still reside on the islands today. In recent years, harvests in Cape Verde have failed to produce any real return due to major droughts and the government has previously been forced to ask for international food aid. Despite these challenges, Cape Verde has a stable economy and political system, and has a higher per income capita than many other African nations. The population is a mixture of African and Europeans; the official language is Portuguese however Creole is more popular as the spoken language. The capital city is Praia, which can be found on the Island of Santiago.

An industry that is experiencing rapid growth in Cape Verde is tourism. The country has fast become a popular tourist destination, due to its beautiful white-sand beaches and excellent conditions for water sports; it is reported that approximately 382,000 tourists visited the archipelago in 2010. There is however widespread concern that the increase in tourism will damage the rich marine life of Cape Verde. Humpback whales feed in the islands waters and the archipelago is a nesting site for loggerhead turtles. In recent years, three new international airports have opened, miles of new road laid and a number of large hotels built, boosting the infrastructure to support the industry and attract tourists. The most visited islands are those of Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago and Sao Vicente, each with something unique to offer. The Island of Fogo has the only active volcano in Cape Verde and the crater attracts many tourists to that island. The islands of Sal and Boa Vista each have miles of beaches and turquoise waters, while the island of Sao Vicente is best for windsurfing and kite boarding. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that accidents and injuries occur during activities in recreational waters in particular, and that risks associated with water-based activities can be decreased through awareness of dangers. Travel advisories also recommend for travelers to Cape Verde to arrange medical insurance to cover hospital or healthcare bills, or other unexpected costs.

Cape Verde Health Care and Insurance

Health care is provided to Cape Verde’s citizens, locals, long-term expatriates and tourists through regional and central hospital facilities, however quite often there is a shortage of basic medical supplies and medicines. Despite an initiative by the Cape Verde government to upgrade public medical facilities and improve citizens access to healthcare, only 3.9 per cent of the country’s GDP is spent on the health system, and there are only 0.6 physicians per 1,000 Cape Verdeans. The largest hospitals are located in the capital Praia on the Island of Santiago, and in Mindelo on the Island of Sao Vicente, however these facilities can still only offer basic care. There are several smaller facilities such as out-patient dispensaries and publicly-funded health centres located across the islands, however they too are only equipped to deal with minor illnesses, and the quality of care is often considered inconsistent. Despite this limited spending on health care and the limitations in the scope of delivery of medical services, government statistics note that life expectancy for men is estimated at 70 years and for women, 77 years. In 2009, there was an outbreak of dengue fever across all nine inhabited islands, resulting in six fatalities and 21,000 cases. Although the last reported case was in 2010, the dengue virus is common in tropical climates and it is still too early to ascertain whether the disease will be a recurring health threat. Cape Verde has one of the lowest rates of HIV/AIDS prevalence worldwide at 0.04 per cent however normal precautions should still be taken to avoid contracting the disease.

Medical facilities in Cape Verde are considered advanced in comparison to those available in West Africa, however by Western standards, care is still deemed to be basic and the quality of delivered care, variable. Private health facilities are limited in Cape Verde but private physicians who have been trained overseas, can be found. They would however typically require payment in cash regardless of whether the visitor has health insurance. In the case of serious illness or injury, air evacuation is often the only option, due to the limited scope for providing emergency medical assistance, therefore comprehensive Cape Verde health insurance is recommended by travel advisories, even for brief visits. Travelers and expatriates should be aware that two of the islands, Brava and Santo Antao, do not have functioning airports and so air evacuation in the case of emergency is extremely difficult, time consuming and costly, due to the vast areas of ocean to be travelled in order to get to reach medical care. As a result expatriates and travelers should exercise caution in undertaking activities, especially those which have risks associated.

Cape Verde Health Insurance Concerns

Many people visit the islands of Cape Verde to take advantage of the excellent conditions for all kinds of water sports. Weather conditions are predominantly windy; therefore Cape Verde is a particularly popular destination for windsurfing and kiteboarding. A local Cape Verdean, Mitu Monteiro, became the 2008 World Kite Surfing Champion, and windsurfer Josh Angulo often promotes Cape Verde as a top windsurfing destination. Caution however needs to be taken when participating in water sports on the islands, as the tides and currents can be very strong, even leading to many small fishing boats being lost at sea. Another popular draw-card for the country is the active volcano on the Island of Fogo. Although it’s been over 15 years since it last erupted, tremors may be felt by visitors across many of the islands. Expatriates need to be aware of evacuation methods as an eruption is still possible, and also seek medical advice if any respiratory symptoms occur around the area. Crime is relatively low in Cape Verde however travelers should remain aware of their surroundings and be mindful of petty thieves, particularly in popular tourist areas. Recent development of the road network has resulted in a new risk in the country as it has enabled drivers to drive faster and thus more dangerously. There is also a trend of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, so at all times when on the road, care should be taken. Expatriates and travelers to Cape Verde should ensure that they have comprehensive travel and medical insurance that covers all planned activities and any unexpected occurrences such as road accidents resulting in injury.

As is the case with all travel, tourists and expatriates should visit their local health care provider to ensure that all routine inoculations are up to date, and any country specific inoculations are administered. Although there is a small risk of malaria on the island of Sao Tiago, medical professionals note that it is not necessary for visitors to take anti-malaria tablets. Travelers should however ensure they take precautions to prevent insect bites such as wearing long sleeved clothing and using an insect repellent with a minimum of 30 per cent DEET. Intestinal parasites are a common occurrence in Cape Verde and will present with diarrhea and discomfort, but are easily treated. Caution should be taken at all times to ensure that only well-cooked food and only bottled water or canned beverages are consumed.

Cape Verde Expat Health Insurance

The health care system in Cape Verde is not comparable to Western standards, and there is often a lack of medical supplies and basic medicines. In emergency situations visitors will often need to be air evacuated, and travel advisories recommended that those visiting the islands should ensure that they have comprehensive international medical insurance to cover such emergencies. Expat Medical Insurance can provide a free quotation for all your travel and medical needs, whether it be long or short-term travel , with family or on your own. Expat Medical Insurance is necessary to ensure emergencies, doctors fees, specialist consultations and medications do not become a financial burden. We have globally transferable policies which can cover you wherever you travel in the world, so call one of our experienced advisors today.