Infrastructure
Since November 1975, the date of the recovery of the Sahara by the motherland, health infrastructure in these provinces has grown remarkably.
Apart from the province of Laayoune, which had one hospital, Dakhla and Smara had only urban clinics.
Concerning outpatient care, and since then, the number of Basic Health Care Institutions increased from 10 to 50 early 2006 i.e. increase of 500%.
On the other hand, hospital structures moved from one hospital of 114 beds in Laayoune to 5 hospitals whose bed capacity amounts to 530 beds in the 5 provinces: two hospitals with a total capacity of 374 beds in Laayoune, a hospital in Oued Eddahab, Boujdour and Smara of 53 beds, 36 beds and 67 beds, respectively.
These achievements have helped reach an average coverage in these provinces of 9260 persons per ESSB and 874 persons per hospital bed. National averages are respectively 11895 and 1150.
The following table shows changes in the health structures in the Sahara region during the period 1980 - 2006:
Human Resources
At the end of 70s, only 10 doctors, including one specialist, and 132 nurses and health technicians worked in the region.
Currently, the number increased to 176 physicians, including 39 specialists. There are also 2 pharmacists, 3 dentists, 639 nurses and health technicians, 4 engineers and 351 qualified administrative staff i.e. 1175 persons operating in the region.
Medical and paramedical density rates in those provinces are respectively 4 doctors and 14 nurses per 10000 inhabitants against 3 doctors and 9 nurses per 10000 inhabitants at the national level.
The following table shows the distribution of human resources according to the categories of personnel and provinces:
Staff Training
In 2000, a Health Career Training Institute was created for the first time in Laayoune, it was the only serving the southern provinces. Every year, it hires 50 polyvalent student nurses, and there are currently 115 trainees and 14 teachers at a supervision rate
of 12.5%.
As part of training strengthening in the Sahara region, a new Institute is under construction, amounting to 6.600.000,00 DH, with the setting up of new training sections including midwives which will be introduced during the 2007/2008 academic year. This will enable local training of managers who were previously trained in Agadir in addition to the other sections that will emerge when needs are identified.
Biomedical Equipment
Hospitals are relatively well equipped, including Laayoune-based hospital in which is the center in the field of medical imaging.
The table below shows the distribution of the currently available biomedical equipment per province:
|
Equipement Description
|
Oued Eddahab-Aousserd
|
Boujdour
|
Laâyoune
|
Smara
|
Total
|
|
Scanner
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Radiology machine
|
1
|
|
2
|
|
3
|
|
Standard Radiology Machine
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
6
|
|
Mammographe
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Mobile Radiology Machine
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
6
|
|
Brightness Amplifier
|
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
Echo cardiographe
|
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
Holter Tensionnel
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Dialysis Machine
|
|
|
22
|
|
22
|
|
Testing Effort Machine
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Operating Microscope
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Ultrasound Machine
|
|
|
5
|
|
5
|
|
Phaco Emulcificateur
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Ophthalmologic Laser Device
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Set of urological endoscopic surgery
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Fibroscope
|
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
High-tech Laboratory Automates
|
|
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
Elisa Drive for AIDS serology and viral hepatitis
|
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
Platelet Agitators
|
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
Centrifuge
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
Overall
|
3
|
3
|
55
|
3
|
64
|
A total of 64 machines distributed as follows: 55 in Laayoune, 3 in Dakhla, 3 in Smara and 3 in Boujdour. In 1976, the only hospital existing in Laayoune, had only one radiology table for standard exams, one processing machine and one operating room with minimal equipment.
Mobility Means
Considering health nature and the importance of mobility means in improving accessibility to care available for both mobile coverage and patients’ evacuation, these provinces have adequate means of mobility given the region’s demographic and geographic characteristics.
The total number of existing vehicles stands at 56 units including 32 ambulances, a national park of 1584 vehicles including 962 ambulances.
Two SAMUs are being created in Laayoune and Dakhla.
The following table shows the distribution of mobility means currently available per province:
|
Region
|
Ambulances
|
Vehicles
|
Overall
|
|
| |
|
Oued-eddahab / Aoouserd
|
7
|
5
|
12
|
|
| |
|
Boujdour
|
7
|
6
|
13
|
|
| |
|
Laâyoune
|
9
|
10
|
19
|
|
| |
|
Smara
|
9
|
3
|
12
|
|
| |
|
Total
|
32
|
24
|
56
|