Sub Saharan Africa

Medical facilities in Chad are poor.  Hospitals in N’Djamena are sometimes affected by strikes by Government workers. You need to keep in mind the possibility that medical services, stretched at the best of times, may be even less responsive than usual.

Malaria and water-borne diseases are common in Chad while outbreaks of cholera are known to occur.  Meningitis outbreaks can occur throughout Chad, and are especially common in the south of the country, which lies within the African meningitis belt stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia.  A measles outbreak was reported in eastern Chad in early 2009, resulting in over 600 cases.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  Food purchased from local street vendors may not meet adequate hygiene standards.

If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Chad you should seek immediate medical attention.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 180,000 adults aged 15 or over in Chad were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 3.5% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Chad and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6. The WHO website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. Check the FCO Swine Flu page for further information.

For more general health information see Travel Health.