Niger Health Insurance

Formerly part of French West Africa (1895-1958) and landlocked by Algeria, Nigeria, Libya, Benin, Burkina, Faso and Chad – Niger is one of the world’s hottest countries with desert covering four-fifths of its 1,266,700 square kilometers. It is also the most populated country on the African continent, inhabited by over 16.4 million people (July, 2011). Niger’s landscape consists predominantly of desert and sand dunes and its climate is typically hot, dry and dusty, with tropical weather in the south, which boasts 11 percent of Niger’s arable land for livestock and limited agriculture. Despite being rich in natural resources of uranium, coal, gold and iron ore, Niger is one of the world’s poorest countries, with over two-thirds of its citizens barely surviving on US$1 a day. Niamey, the capital and economic center of Niger is located in the South East of the country, on the banks of the Niger River, and is also the country’s largest and most developed city. French is the official language; however Hausa and Djerma are also widely spoken throughout Niger.

Two landscape features are incredibly important in generating tourism revenue for the country. The primary attraction is the Sahara Desert, with its many tribes and clans, camel-trekking and distinct caravan culture. The River Niger and the many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in close proximity are also an important draw-card. December through to February are the favored months for travelling within Niger, being the winter season, providing pleasantly cool temperatures and an ideal time to visit the country’s famed wildlife reserves. As tourist facilities are minimal, particularly outside the capital, visitors should be careful in choosing their guides and/or tour operators. Considerable travel will be required in the event of a major medical emergency, which as medical facilities in the country are sub-standard, will require evacuation. Costs for such situations can be substantial, and therefore expat medical insurance, with an emergency evacuation benefit, is recommended for all expatriates and tourists in the country.

Niger Health Care and Insurance

The Government of Niger provides healthcare through hospitals, health posts, maternal health centers and a number of clinics throughout the country, all overseen by the Niger Ministry of Health. There are three main Government hospitals in the capital. Foreign aid agencies, charitable and non-government organizations also supplement the healthcare system, operating clinics and providing public health programs.

The healthcare system in Niger, however, still suffers from chronic limitations in resources, such as medical equipment, essential drugs, staff and has a small number of health suppliers relative to Niger’s population. Healthcare facilities are limited, even in Niamey and especially inadequate in outer-lying regions. The rural populace is often inhibited in receiving services due to the distance to be travelling in order to reach healthcare clinics. The Government introduced free healthcare for children under five years, pregnant women, and those of childbearing age some years ago, resulting in a positive impact and improved outcomes for these groups, noted in a recently published report by the organization ‘Doctors of the World’, on the element of free healthcare in Niger. The policy of wholly subsidized healthcare for certain groups has encouraged early treatment and improved response to the main diseases and primary causes of mortality in Niger; but a lack of funding has weakened the policy, with the dedicated budget covering less than half of the current funding requirements.

A number of private clinics operate within the capital and larger cities; however the standard of care provided is not comparable to that available in developed countries. The for-profit sector generally requires payment up-front, and complex medical situations usually need evacuations to other locations for continuing care. Given that there are regular shortages of various medicines and limited emergency assistance available locally, it is highly recommended that travellers buy comprehensive international medical insurance as well as carry their own supplies of prescription and preventative medicines.

Serious diseases in Niger remain public health threats. Among these, measles, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis typically take the form of epidemics and claim many lives annually. Extreme poverty, poor sanitation, malnutrition and limited access to clean water all compound health issues and facilitate the outbreak of disease. Commonly fatal are malaria and bronchitis; cholera and meningitis also remain major threats to public health. In 2011, a malaria epidemic resulted in a large number of children being admitted to nutrition centers, with illnesses often compounded due to the health impacts of malnutrition.

One in four children in Niger under the age of five dies, and malnutrition is noted as often being an underlying cause of the heightened levels of infant mortality. Despite harvests in 2010 being above-average, admission rates to feeding centers remained incredibly high, at approximately 5,000 people per week. Challenges remain in building awareness of immunization, infant and maternal health, and delivering adequate healthcare to rural inhabitants. The intervention of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Niger has improved health conditions with the introduction of vaccination programs and decreasing mortality rates from preventable diseases, however the estimated life expectancy is still bleak, at 52 years for men and 54 years for women.

Niger Travel Insurance Concerns

Niger is susceptible to seasonal bursts of meningococcal disease which tends to materialize in epidemic proportions towards the end of winter, when temperatures dip to 15 C at night from February to the start of the wet season in May. Malaria is present throughout the congested southern Niger. Low vaccination rates continue to result in random outbreaks of measles near the end of the rainy season reflecting the seasonal migration movements of rural inhabitants. With the introduction of varied and effective preventive procedures, mortality rates have decreased significantly throughout the country, however the risk of contracting such diseases is high, therefore preventative measures should be undertaken, and expat Niger health insurance organized to minimize any delays in receiving medical attention due to an inability to arrange payment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists Niger as a country in which yellow fever transmission presents a risk. There is also a requirement set by the Government that a vaccination certificate for the disease be provided by all travelers over the age of one year entering the country. Depending on an individual’s itinerary and personal risk factors, a travel health expert might also recommend vaccinations against Hepatitis A & B, Meningitis, Influenza, Typhoid and Rabies, and boosters for Polio and Tetanus. The Typhoid vaccination could be particularly important due to the presence of strains that are resistant to multiple types of antibiotics. As the environment is generally hot and dusty, respiratory conditions may also be aggravated. No local emergency line exists; therefore transportation to a medical facility is most likely to be an individual responsibility and at one’s own expense.

Extreme poverty has resulted in high levels of crime, especially in Niger’s capital. Violence and terrorism are risks directly associated with the unpredictable political situation, and visitors are advised to exercise extreme caution when moving throughout the country. Some travel advisories from developed nations warn against all travel to Niger, and all but essential travel to Niamey. Kidnappings have occurred and are expected to continue. Landmines and other unexploded munitions have been found throughout the country, including in the capital and major cities. Criminal activity predominantly consists of robberies and residential break-ins, and are common both day and night. Beyond the main routes, roads are in poor condition, and particularly hazardous due to the local driving style, roaming farm animals, numerous bicycles and mopeds, broken-down vehicles and slow-moving donkey carts. According to advisories, roadside assistance is not to be counted on, and all travel during the hours of darkness is to be avoided. Most of the secondary roads can be impassable during the rainy season, from June/July to September/October.

It is recommended that comprehensive Niger health and travel insurance be organized to cover the cost of repatriation and evacuation in the event a medical condition necessitates departure from the country or to replace lost or stolen belongings.

Niger Expat Health Insurance

Medical care in Niger is sub-standard, and depending on where individuals may be travelling, it can difficult and time consuming to access adequate healthcare. Complex medical situations or serious conditions are likely to result in evacuation or repatriation. Comprehensive expat medical insurance is necessary due to the high costs associated with either of these actions. A Niger health insurance policy can be arranged which can provide globally transferable policies, covering you and your family wherever and whenever you may travel. A worldwide medical insurance policy from Expat Medical Insurance can cover a range of medical needs, including emergency evacuation, maternity services, doctors’ fees, specialist consultations and medications. To guarantee access to healthcare whenever you need it, make contact with one of our consultants to discuss a range plans specific to your needs.