Nouakchott - 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?
The Health Unit at the embassy can handle most basic issues and primary care things. It has been the most accessible Health Unit we have encountered in the FS and the staff will go out of their way to help you if there is something you need. Care on the local economy is substandard even if there are a few Western-trained physicians and one western led clinic scattered around town. - Jan 2023
The Embassy has a med unit, but anything requiring specific care (broken bones, dental emergency) would be a medevac. Dengue is not uncommon, and many families take malaria prophylaxis. GI issues are overall not common, though a few people have had repeated issues. - Aug 2021
We use the health unit at the embassy. - Aug 2021
I was not food poisoned in my two years in Nouakchott, which was a great surprise. Mauritania is a malaria zone country in the South but occurences are rare. There are private medical clinics available and care is ok, but medevac will be needed for more serious conditions as is the case in many developing countries in the world. The Canary Islands are two hours away, Paris is a five hour flight from Nouakchott. - Sep 2020
Quality of medical care in private clinics is not the highest in the world, but is decent. Referrals to Dakar/Europe are not uncommon. - Apr 2019
We have a Foreign Service Nurse Practitioner and a local-hire nurse who handle most things like minor illnesses or stitches. For anything more than that you will need to be medically evacuated. Medical care is not suitable here for much of anything. Lots of gastrointestinal problems and we are advised to take malaria pills. - May 2016
There is no medical care. If you have anything lingering - get it fixed before you go. - Dec 2015
There is no "medical care" in Nouakchott. The various clinics and hospitals are substandard at best. Medevac is the most common way of dealing with medical issues. Health concerns are numerous. Stomach problems such a parasites are common. Upper respiratory infections are also a problem due to poor air quality and fecal matter in the air. Malaria and dengue fever are always a concern. Air France flies through Conakry prior to landing in Nouakchott so Ebola is on the radar now too. - Apr 2014
Poor medical care on the economy. Don't get sick to the point of hospitalization. Make sure you have medevac insurance. - Aug 2011
Sandstorms can affect breathing. - Dec 2009
