Health in Djibouti

History

The first health care facility in Djibouti was opened in 1897 by the Ethiopian Railways Company, which was later purchased by the state in 1901. It was expanded to include a facility for tuberculosis patients and included 12 new beds for the medically indigent. In 1949, the number of beds increased to 330. Additionally, a laboratory and the ability to treat patients with pulmonary diseases was added. The facility was expanded again in 1953, adding a surgical unit named after Guibert Germain and a blood transfusion unit. The hospital was renamed in 1955 after General Peltier to commemorate his service as a chief physician for 25 years. Additional operating theaters were added the same year. The facility expanded again in 1968 to include a 35 bed maternal ward and 30 beds for eye and ENT.[1]: 30 

Health care

In 2010 there were an estimated 23 physicians and 80 nurses per 100,000 people.[2] Since healthcare in the region is so poor, more than a third of the healthcare recipients are migrants. Healthcare is best in the capital; outside the capital it is limited by poor infrastructure, equipment shortages, and a lack of qualified personnel.[3]

There were 56 medical facilities in Djibouti in 2019, including hospitals, medical centers, and health posts.[4] The following are some of the hospitals in Djibouti:[5]

  • Al Rahma Hospital, Balbala[4]
  • Ali Sabieh Hospital Medical Center, Ali-Sabieh[4]
  • Arta Hospital Medical Centre, Arta[4]
  • Centre Yonis Toussaint Hospital, Djibouti
  • Dikhil District Hospital, Dikhil[4][6]
  • Dr. Chakib Hospital, Djibouti[4]
  • French Military Hospital, Djibouti[5][7]
  • Halas Hospital, Djibouti
  • Hospital General Peltier (public), Djibouti[5][8][4]
  • Hospital Bouffard, Djibouti[8][9]
  • Hopital De Balbala "Cheiko", Balbala[8][4]
  • Housseina CNRSR Hospital, Djibouti[4]
  • Maternity Hospital Dar-El-Hanan Route Hassan Gouled, Djibouti[8][4]
  • Obock Hospital Medical Centre, Obock[4]
  • Service d'Hygiene Hospital, Djibouti[4]
  • Tadjourah Hospital Medical Centre, Djibouti[4]

Issues

Geographic inequality

A lack of infrastructure outside of cities means that rural residents have worse access to healthcare.

Health status

Life, maternal, death, and birth rates

Life expectancy has increased by 18 years since 1960.

Life Expectancy per 1,000 inhabitants (years)[2]
Year Male Female Total
1960 42.7 45.4 44.0
1970 47.8 50.6 49.1
1980 52.1 55.2 53.6
1990 55.1 58.3 56.7
2000 55.5 58.6 57.0
2010 58.9 61.9 60.4
2014 60.4 63.7 62.0

Infant mortality has decreased by 38.5 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1990.

Infant Mortality per 1,000 live births (deaths)[2]
Year Male Female Total
1990 100.6 84.4 92.7
2000 86.5 72.6 79.7
2010 67.7 56.3 62.2
2015 59.2 49.1 54.2

Djibouti's birth rate is 23.6/1,000 inhabitants, while its death rate is 7.6 deaths/1,000 inhabitants. The maternal rate is 2.29 deaths/1,000 inhabitants.[3] The death rate was 7.73 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants.[2]

HIV/AIDS

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Djibouti was 1.6% of the population for those aged 15–49 years old (9,400 people) as of 2015.[2][3] In 2015, there were an estimated 600 deaths from AIDS.[3]

Women and children

As of 2012, 29.8% of children under five were underweight.[3] In Djibouti, 93.1% females had female genital mutilation as of 2006.[2] Female genital mutilation in Djibouti is a leading cause of infant and maternal mortality, and it continues to be prevalent to this day, despite a 1995 law prohibiting the practice.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Health System Profile: Djibouti" (PDF). 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Djibouti". The World Bank. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Djibouti". CIA. October 7, 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "A spatial database of health facilities managed by the public health sector in sub-Saharan Africa". World Health Organization. February 11, 2019. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Medical Facilities in Djibouti" (PDF). US Embassy, Djibouti. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  6. ^ Google maps database
  7. ^ "Hospital Militaire Djibouti". Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d "Medical Assistance in Djibouti". US Embassy, Djibouti. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "US donates beds to Djiboutis COVID-19 quarantine hospital". ADF Magazine. 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021.

Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.