Report on the Advocacy Mission to assess the situation of children in Central African Republic
b)
Right to Health
12.
The Delegation received information that indicates the health
service system is in crisis and primary health care is not available,
particularly in rural areas. Inequalities and regional disparities are found
on number of medical staffs and access to basic health services.
Indicators show high rate of infant mortality mainly due to malaria,
malnutrition and infections. Many children aged from 0 to 5 are not
vaccinated, because it is very difficult to access health care
centers. One out of eight children dies before the age of
five, and almost half of the children under five are stunted.
13.
The Delegation also learned that many health facilities run
by humanitarian staff are not open every day and do not allow taking
care of sick children. There are however few NGOs such as Médecins sans
Frontières and Doctors of Africa that provide technical support to
public facilities for medical care for the sick.
14.
A large number of children are victims of physical and
sexual violence in refugee camps, which in the long term have
psychological effects on them. Despite the actions of some NGOs,
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