Accra - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Malaria, dengue, mpox are among the current warnings. Yellow fever and a variety of vaccines required before arrival. Many medical conditions require medical evacuation, locally they can only handle the basic stuff. The medical unit at the embassy is very busy and do a lot since local services are minimal. - Aug 2024
The embassy backed hospitals and doctors are pretty solid. We were welcomed to post with an appendectomy for one of my children within a few months of arriving, dealt with a broken arm, and have seen an ENT and audiologist. The embassy HU has strong contacts, but expect to navigate this on your own. With an embassy this size the HU generally does not go with you. - Sep 2023
There are several good clinics and hospitals in Accra. The main health concern is malaria. Most people medevac to give birth. - Nov 2022
I don't feel one should take the weekly malaria pills due to possibility of bad side effects. The daily are fine, but it's a bit annoying to remember to make the kids take them every day. - Sep 2022
Malaria- you have to take prophylactics. Ghana gut is real (you'll get it a few times while you're here), you can't drink the water, AQI gets up to 200-250 during Harmattan (Dec-Feb). Medical care is basic at best; the health unit refers almost everything out to local providers. I wouldn't get anything done here. - Mar 2022
Heat and harmattan (dust storms) are difficult for some. A lot of burning of trash but with winds from the ocean the air is, if not clean, then at least not smog. Malaria is an issue, most acute care needs medevac but we have a good orthodontist/dentist we use here. - Nov 2019
Malaria is a problem in Ghana. We all take anti-malarial medications. Bilharzia can be an issue in freshwater locations, I've heard. Produce needs to be washed carefully to avoid foodborne illness (it's rare to make it through a tour without at least one bout of GI trouble, though). I was medevaced due to some cardiovascular issues, and I do think medical evacuation is fairly common when people encounter health issues beyond fairly basic stuff. My son's best friend was medevaced with a broken arm. - May 2019
Malaria is critical here, so everyone should take anti-malarials. I think there are some medical clinics that the embassy recommends although we have not yet had to use them. - Apr 2018
There's a lot of air pollution and trash on the roads here. Also be advised that you can't drink the tap water. There are open ditches and open sewers too. Take your malaria meds regularly. - Aug 2017
Malaria, yellow fever, HIV and AIDS, and if you need any kind of surgery you better get ready to jump on a plane. Pretty much any kind of medical condition will call for a medical evacuation. - Apr 2017
Malaria. - Aug 2016
Medical care is terrible. If you have something serious going on, they will medevac you to either London, Cape Town or DC. - May 2014
Malaria pills are a must. Don’t drink the tap water or use ice in restaurants. Fruits and vegetables must be sanitized. Don’t swim in the open ocean or in still water, like Lake Volta (risk of schistosomiasis). Anything that requires a hospital will need to use medevac. - Apr 2012
Medical care is not very good. - Aug 2011
Malaria is a real concern here and antimalrials are recommended for everyone. - Jun 2011
This isn't the place to have a serious health problem. The HU does a great job with what they have, but emergency services can be scary. Many folks join WARA (West African Rescue Assoc.) which provides good emergency care, but we are in Africa and conditions are sometimes less than ideal in public hospitals (even the expensive 37 Military Hospital) and equipment is older. Most women medevac to have children; it is required for embassy women. Malaria zone. Medevac is Pretoria or London. - Feb 2010
Pretty good. - Feb 2010
Malaria is a concern and one should be prepared to take a prophylaxis. - May 2009
