Yaounde - 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?
There is one HSO in the embassy, a Physician's Assistant. She sees everyone from six months to 60 years old. - Feb 2022
Local medical care is very rudimentary. A "hospital" near our home looks like a collection of old shacks. We have medical care through the Embassy, are able to have some labs done locally, and are able to get some meds from local pharmacies. My son was able to get an x-ray from a local place and get it set at the embassy medical unit. I think most serious issues are med-evacuated to Paris. - Jan 2020
Malaria is prevalent, so take your anti malarial prophylaxis. I heard yesterday of a local who died of cerebral malaria. Apparently the local doctor at the hospital advised the family to see a specialist as he was unable to help. You will need to be medevaced for many things as medical care is limited. I heard of a child and another adult who were medevaced for root canals. We found that the dental experience here is something to be avoided; even the basic cleaning for four people took four hours and left us feeling very sore in our jaws and mouths as we left. - Jun 2018
Malaria is endemic, so you need to take your prophylaxis. This is sub-Saharan Africa, so HIV is something you don't want to chance. This is a Zika zone; it's not exceedingly common, but there is the option of an immediate medical evacuation during pregnancy. There are well-trained doctors available, and the emergency medicine in Yaounde will keep you alive if needed, but the medical facilities are limited overall, so anything serious or requiring surgery or non-standard tests requires medical evacuation to Pretoria, London, or the U.S. - Apr 2017
Malaria. Take your meds!! - Apr 2014
Medical care is a big one. We survived stitches, broken bones, a pregnancy, and one medevac during our tour. The Embassy Health Unit was amazing through it all. The facility itself is amazing. It's brand new and has its own lab. The staff is really supportive, especially of kids. Anytime the kids get sick, they are there and have a great pharmacy to help. The trickier part is the city and a way out. We had a medical emergency while the President was out of his palace. That's when all the roads are down and traffic is even messier than usual. We had to wait until the roads opened back up before we could get medical attention. If there is an emergency medevac, then it's one flight a day and hopefully you get to the airport in time and hopefully there is a seat left type of thing. If medical concerns make you nervous, this should probably not be your first choice to live. - Jan 2014
Yes, starting with malaria. If you have allergies or asthma, be careful. - May 2012
Malaria. There's a French-run clinic that is OK. This is not the place to have an emergency in, however. - Sep 2011
The US Embassy has a well-staffed Health Unit with a FS nurse and a local nurse. You go there first with all your little emergencies and family illnesses. Other expats use a French doctor. Serious problems and childbirth have to be handled via medevac. There is at least one good German-trained dentist and she did a great job when my oldest son broke a tooth playing basketball. - Mar 2010
No quality medical care available. You can pay a membership fee to use the French Embassies clinic. It is about 12o$ per year and a consultation is 40$. - Jan 2010
Yaounde has some excellent talent in the form of surgeons and specialists, but the facilities are poor. The embassy's health unit is great and generally covers everyone's needs. They occasionally bring local doctors into their clinic when needed. For more serious medical problems, expats are generally sent to Pretoria on medevac. - Nov 2008
Lots of tropical diseases - funguses. - Sep 2008
Cameroon is known as the petri-dish of Africa. There are many health concerns here, and if they don't kill you, then a traffic accident will. - Jun 2008
Local health care is risky. I had a digital x-ray for a sprained softball ankle, and it was US$7, but I didn't have a lead apron. - Jun 2008
