What is healthcare in Nigeria like?

Facilities and Health Information

Nigeria has a number of well-trained doctors, yet medical facilities in Nigeria are in poor condition, with inadequately trained nursing staff. Diagnostic and treatment equipment is often poorly maintained, and many medicines are unavailable. Caution should be taken when purchasing medicines locally as counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a common problem and may be difficult to distinguish from genuine medications. This is particularly true of generic medicines purchased at local pharmacies or in street markets. Hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the type that predominates in Nigeria, is resistant to the anti-malarial drug chloroquine. Because travelers to Nigeria are at high risk for contracting malaria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that travelers take one of the following anti-malarial drugs: mefloquine (Lariam™), doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone™). If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area, and up to one year after returning home, you should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician your travel history and what anti-malarials you have been taking. T

Drinking Water Source - % of rural population improved

49.1%

Drinking Water Source - % of total population unimproved

36%

Drinking Water Source - % of urban population improved

78.8%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.6%

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

.53

People Living with HIV/AIDS

3,300,000

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.4

Diseases - note

highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds

Sanitation Facility Access - % of total population unimproved

72.2%

Sanitation Facility Access - % of urban population improved

30.8%

Sanitation Facility Access - % of rural population improved

24.7%

Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

very high

Animal Contact Disease (s)

rabies

Food or Waterborne Disease (s)

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

Respiratory disease (s)

meningococcal meningitis

Soil contact disease (s)

one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever

Vectorborne Disease (s)

malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

Water contact disease (s)

leptospirosis and schistosomiasis

Disability Access In Nigeria

Accessibility

While in Nigeria, individuals with disabilities will find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. While Nigeria’s National Assembly approved a disabilities law in February 2013, it has not yet become law. U.S. citizens with disabilities that hinder mobility should consider this information when planning travel to Nigeria.

Disclaimer

You are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. Information provided is subject to change without notice. One should confirm content prior to traveling from other reliable sources. Information published on this website may contain errors. You travel at your own risk and no warranties or guarantees are provided by us.

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