Africa > East Africa > Djibouti > Djibouti Health Profile

Djibouti: Djibouti Health Profile

2015/08/10

Djibouti Health

HEALTH & DEVELOPMENT


Infant and maternal mortality rates are still part the highest in the world. The leading causes of death and hospitalization part children are diarrhea, acute respiratory infections (ARI), and nutritional problems. The government has adopted a national immunization strategy and the integrated management of childhood illnesses (IMCI) strategy and is supported by the international partners.

Poverty and malnutrition are critical barriers to health development. Additional than 74,4% of the people lives below the poverty line. 20,7% of children under-5 years of age are underweight and 40% of women are found to be anemic during their initial antenatal visit. The country is vulnerable to communicable diseases and epidemics. The major causes of morbidity and mortality are infectious diseases; diarrhea, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Poor sanitary conditions, the lack of water add to the risk of epidemics.

The Government with WHO support has launched a vast programme to reform the health system in order to improve the health care delivery system which is has weak health structures, lack of equipment, inadequate maintenance and a shortage of trained and motivated personnel. The donors led by the World Bank provides the major part of the funds required.


The health care providers are the public sector (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Defense). There are facilities to support private sector workers. Furthermore, an extra hospital structure depends on the French Military Cooperation. There are as well facilities of the Office of Social Protection (OPS) and the private sector.

Creation of the Medical School of Djibouti (EMD) in 2007 and Higher Institute of Health Sciences (ISSS) in 2007. Medicines availability and accessibility As part of the health reform of 2002, a new medicines policy and a new organization, the “Medicines and Pharmacy Directorate” have been set up to ensure the supply of public health facilities with generic medicines. The availability of affordable drugs is one of the major objectives of the Medicines Government Policy.


There is an urgent need to reform the health financing system as the public investment in the health sector has followed a downward trend in the last decade. An interior alternative financing to meet non predictability in external financing. This will be done by the mandatory and universal insurance scheme.

OPPORTUNITIES

• To rapidly reduce child and maternal mortality.
• To adequately finance the health sector.
• To quickly train and maintain health professional and mangers.
• To improve environmental health and nutritional status of people.
• To expedite efforts towards achieving the national Millennium Development Goals (MDG)s
• To quickly raise public awareness on health.
• How to address the issue of khat utilization.