The Central African Republic's silent health crisis

摘要

The Central African Republic (CAR) is in the midst of a perpetual-and largely overlooked-health crisis. While the country contends with what amounts to a continuous state of medical emergency, the situation has not generated a response big enough to meet the basic health needs for most of the population.Despite some of the world's worst health indicators-one of the ten lowest UN Human Development Index scores, the highest HIV prevalence in the region-crises in CAR's more populous neighbours, such as DR Congo and South Sudan, generate the bigger international reactions. In the absence of an international response, the state is not filling the gap. In 2010, the government spent US$6 per head on health. Meanwhile, financial support for health from both the international community and the government has been sliding.