Health & Education
From The Report: Cote d'Ivoire 2013
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In the 1980s Côte d’Ivoire’s health care system was a model for the region, but population growth, waning state revenues and conflict eroded the capacity of public institutions, leading to material and facility shortages and declining health for citizens. Major killers today are largely preventive diseases, such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, demanding the establishment of national programmes to coordinate and implement efforts to fight them. Yet, after decades of eroding health budgets, the Ivoirian government has declared 2013 as the “Year of Health”, pledging to greatly increase state expenditures to modernise and expand the public health care system, inspiring hope for improvements in key indicators such as maternal and child mortality rates. 

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

On the path to wellness: Increased expenditures to address regional disparities in access
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In the 1980s Côte d’Ivoire’s health care system was a model for the region, but population growth, waning state revenues and conflict eroded the capacity of public institutions, leading to material and facility shortages and declining health for citizens. Major killers today are largely preventive diseases, such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, demanding the establishment of national programmes to coordinate and implement efforts to fight them. Yet, after decades of eroding health budgets, the Ivoirian…

Analysis

Looking locally: More support is being given to domestic pharmaceuticals producers
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Representing 25% of the French-speaking African market, the Ivoirian pharmaceuticals sector grew 8% between 2011 and 2012, and is expected to continue expanding as the country recovers from the recent conflict. Popular medications include drugs for infectious diseases, inflammation medications, antibiotics against bacteria, and medicines for mother- and child-related illnesses. Rising demand from population growth and the conflict necessitated an increase in pharmaceuticals spending from 27.24%…

Interview

OBG talks to Didier Acouetey, President, AfricSearch
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Interview: Didier Acouetey To what extent does demand for skilled labour necessitate a return of the African diaspora? DIDIER ACOUETEY: There certainly has been a brain drain and, while data varies, it is estimated that 70,000 to 100,000 qualified Africans leave each year. Human capital is necessary for development, and economic growth in Africa has varied between 5% and 8% per annum. As such, there is naturally very high demand for skilled labour and Africans who have studied abroad. The needs…

Overview

Filling in the gaps: Schools are being reopened and reconstructed in the wake of conflict
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Introduced towards the end of the 19th century, the Ivoirian education system was based on the French system and set up to educate interpreters and clerks in the colonial administration. The system comprises six years of primary education and seven years in secondary school, concluding with the baccalaureate exam in the final year. The national curriculum is largely planned by the state and exams are coordinated through the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Vocational Education and the Ministry…