Health in Eritrea
Encyclopedia
Health in Eritrea is generally poor as it remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Over two-thirds of the population lives below the national poverty line and the vast majority in rural areas, about one-third of the population lives in extreme poverty
and more than half survives on less than US$1 per day. Nevertheless, Eritrea is one of the few countries to be on target to meet its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets for health. Researchers at the Overseas Development Institute
have identified the high prioritisation of health and education both within the government and amongst Eritreans at home and abroad. Innovative multi-sectoral approaches to health were also identified with the success.
Health care
and welfare resources generally are believed to be poor, although reliable information about conditions is often difficult to obtain. In 2001, the most recent year for which figures are available, the Eritrean government spent 5.7 percent of gross domestic product
on national health accounts. The World Bank
's World DataBank estimated that in 2004 there were only 50 physicians per 100,000 people in Eritrea
, while the World Health Organization
(WHO) estimated only 3. The two-year war with Ethiopia
, coming on the heels of a 30-year struggle for independence
, negatively affected the health sector and the general welfare. The rate of prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV
/AIDS
), although low by sub-Saharan Africa
n standards, was high enough at 2.7 percent in 2003 to be considered a generalized epidemic.
In the decade since 1995, however, impressive results have been achieved. Life expectancy at birth has increased from 39.1 in 1960 to 59.5 years in 2008, maternal and child mortality
rates have dropped dramatically and the health infrastructure has been expanded (please see table). In 2008 average life expectancy
was slightly less than 63 years, according to the WHO. Immunisation and child nutrition has been tackled by working closely with schools in a multi-sectoral approach; the number of children vaccinated against measles
almost doubled in seven years, from 40.7% to 78.5% and the underweight prevalence among children decreased by 12% in 1995-2002 (severe underweight prevalence by 28%). This has helped to some small extent even out rural-urban and rich-poor inequity
in health.
Malaria
control is an important component of the Eritrean preventive health policy. The National Malaria Protection Unit of the Ministry of Health has registered tremendous improvements in reducing malarial mortality by as much as 85% and the number
of cases by 92% between 1998 and 2006. These impressive gains are the result of the Ministry of Health "...running [a] strong and effective national programme..."
In 2003 Eritrea opened its first medical college in an effort to narrow the healthcare worker gap. By 2012 the medical college's graduates will triple the number of pediatricians and double the number of surgeons in Eritrea.
Extreme poverty
Extreme poverty, as defined in 1996 by Joseph Wresinski, the founder of ATD Fourth World, is:"The lack of basic security connotes the absence of one or more factors enabling individuals and families to assume basic responsibilities and to enjoy fundamental rights. The situation may become...
and more than half survives on less than US$1 per day. Nevertheless, Eritrea is one of the few countries to be on target to meet its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets for health. Researchers at the Overseas Development Institute
Overseas Development Institute
The Overseas Development Institute is one of the leading independent think tanks on international development and humanitarian issues. Based in London, its mission is "to inspire and inform policy and practice which lead to the reduction of poverty, the alleviation of suffering and the achievement...
have identified the high prioritisation of health and education both within the government and amongst Eritreans at home and abroad. Innovative multi-sectoral approaches to health were also identified with the success.
Health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
and welfare resources generally are believed to be poor, although reliable information about conditions is often difficult to obtain. In 2001, the most recent year for which figures are available, the Eritrean government spent 5.7 percent of gross domestic product
Gross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
on national health accounts. The World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
's World DataBank estimated that in 2004 there were only 50 physicians per 100,000 people in Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, while the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO) estimated only 3. The two-year war with Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, coming on the heels of a 30-year struggle for independence
Eritrean War of Independence
The Eritrean War of Independence was a conflict fought between the Ethiopian government and Eritrean separatists, both before and during the Ethiopian Civil War. The war started when Eritrea’s autonomy within Ethiopia, where troops were already stationed, was unilaterally revoked...
, negatively affected the health sector and the general welfare. The rate of prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
), although low by sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
n standards, was high enough at 2.7 percent in 2003 to be considered a generalized epidemic.
In the decade since 1995, however, impressive results have been achieved. Life expectancy at birth has increased from 39.1 in 1960 to 59.5 years in 2008, maternal and child mortality
Child mortality
Child mortality, also known as under-5 mortality, refers to the death of infants and children under the age of five. In 2010, 7.6 million children under five died , down from 8.1 million in 2009, 8.8 million in 2008, and 12.4 million in 1990. About half of child deaths occur in Africa....
rates have dropped dramatically and the health infrastructure has been expanded (please see table). In 2008 average life expectancy
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
was slightly less than 63 years, according to the WHO. Immunisation and child nutrition has been tackled by working closely with schools in a multi-sectoral approach; the number of children vaccinated against measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
almost doubled in seven years, from 40.7% to 78.5% and the underweight prevalence among children decreased by 12% in 1995-2002 (severe underweight prevalence by 28%). This has helped to some small extent even out rural-urban and rich-poor inequity
Equity (economics)
Equity is the concept or idea of fairness in economics, particularly as to taxation or welfare economics. More specifically it may refer to equal life chances regardless of identity, to provide all citizens with a basic minimum of income/goods/services or to increase funds and commitment for...
in health.
Malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
control is an important component of the Eritrean preventive health policy. The National Malaria Protection Unit of the Ministry of Health has registered tremendous improvements in reducing malarial mortality by as much as 85% and the number
of cases by 92% between 1998 and 2006. These impressive gains are the result of the Ministry of Health "...running [a] strong and effective national programme..."
In 2003 Eritrea opened its first medical college in an effort to narrow the healthcare worker gap. By 2012 the medical college's graduates will triple the number of pediatricians and double the number of surgeons in Eritrea.
| Then | Now | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 39.1 (1960) | 59.5 (2008) | World DataBank |
| Under five mortality rate per 1,000 live births | 205 (1975) | 58.2 (2008) | World DataBank and MDG Indicators |
| Immunisation coverage (measles) | 34% (1993) | 95% (2008) | MDG Indicators |
| Children underweight | 43.7% (1995) | 38.4% (2002) | DHS 1995/DHS 2002 |
| Maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live births | 998 (1995) | 450 (2005) | WHO 2009 |
| Antenatal care coverage | 48.9% (1995) | 70.3%(2002) | DHS 1995/DHS 2002 |
| Births attended by skilled health personnel | 20.6% (1995) | 28.3% (2002) | DHS 1995/DHS 2002 |
| Health infrastructure | 16 hospitals; 4 health centres; 106 health stations (1991) | 25 hospitals; 52 health centres; 180 health stations; 113 clinics (2008) | MoH (2008) and WHO (2009) |
| Physicians (per 1,000 people) | 0.2 (1993) | 0.5 (2004) | World DataBank |