Dakar - 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 air here can get pretty bad especially around the harmattan season. People with allergies to dust and asthma should tread carefully. Houses here are not well-sealed, so the dust is literally everywhere. Otherwise the range of medical services here is pretty wide. Remed24 and SOS Medecin will send a doctor to your house within a few hours. People will medevac for serious procedures and for childbirth. - Apr 2022
The medical care is pretty good if you can afford the private clinics, where many of the doctors have been trained in Europe or Canada and the equipment is more modern. Nevertheless, for anything serious, most people who have the means will go to France or the United States. - Jul 2020
Medical care here is sufficient to stabilize you long enough to get medevacked. SOS Medicins is great for minor illnesses and injuries, though the wait-time is getting longer. You’ll probably get medevacked to Europe for anything major. - Dec 2019
Med care is fine. There's a couple OBGYNs, several dentists, and awesome osteopath and a physical therapist. I would say broken bones would require a medevac. There is SOS Medecin that comes to your home; we've used them several times for (strep throat/malaria scares) rather than lugging the whole household to the med unit. Med unit at embassy is fine. - Dec 2018
Malaria! Take your meds. The Embassy is available, but if it's a holiday or weekend make sure you have cash on hand for the med unit here, the cash up front before anything is done. Bring lots of immodium! - Dec 2018
Good healthcare is available, at least for routine needs. I have an excellent dentist and have had significant dental work done, for example. Though for serious issues medical evacuation is necessary. - Jun 2017
Allergies and asthma can be issues, especially during the windy harmattan months (Jan - late March). Mildew and mold are issues during the higher humidity months (July - October). - Apr 2016
The RMO is based here and he will sometimes refer you to local specialists. But you are going to get medevaced for anything serious. - Aug 2015
Malaria is a concern so make sure to take your anti-malarial medication. The med unit at the Embassy is wonderful! There are also several clinics and local doctors that are trustworthy. For true emergencies, London is the medevac point. - Aug 2014
Malaria is the major concern. Dakar is a regional medevac point for the UN so medical care is pretty good. Private clinics. U.S. Embassy folks have babies here. There are dentists, optometrists and eye doctors, glasses shops. But those are expensive....bring eye wear and contact lenses from elsewhere. - Apr 2014
Yes. Several expats have died from malaria. Hospital care is not very good, but there are a few specialists in town that are sufficient. Most illnesses will result in a medevac trip to London or the USA. - Jun 2013
Malaria's probably the biggest, and diarrheal diseases. I've been fortunate to not have either and I don't take malaria meds . - Mar 2013
Malaria. - Oct 2012
Malaria, food-born illnesses. Local medical care is far from Western standards with a few exceptions. There are a few good English-speaking dentists. There are private ambulances, but emergency response is a crapshoot. Traffic accidents are frequent and serious. - Mar 2012
Malaria is a big concern here. Locals often report getting malaria. Westerners who don't take prophylaxis have also gotten Malaria. I would prefer not to stay in any hospitals here as i am not sure that they are air conditioned and able to keep the Malaria-carrying mosquitoes out. - Aug 2011
Despite the previous poster's assertion - medical care is actually quite inconsistent in Dakar. Yes, there are clinics - but the level of expertise and availability of treatment varies tremendously. There is almost no ICU capability, for instance. The SOS Medcin group probably offers the best emergency care. If you get sick in Dakar and have the chance to be medevac'd out - take it. There were numerous stories of misdiagnosis and bad medical outcomes during our time in Senegal. - Jan 2011
There is a good German doctor in town many Embassy officials use. - Feb 2010
Not an expert on this. Medical care seems pretty good. - Feb 2010
Avoid malaria mosquitos. Very good French & Lebanese doctors, or Senegalese doctors trained & certified in France. - Jan 2010
Malaria. - May 2009
