SYNCRISIS, THE DYNAMICS OF HEALTH : 22. KINGDOM OF MOROCCO

The primary purpose of this study is to provide a concise and up-to-date introduction to the health situation in Morocco, for use by A.I.D. and the international health community. Topics of discussion include: Population; The Health Environment; Health Status; Nutrition; Health Infrastructure; Health Manpower; Health Facilities; Health Programs; and Morocco in Perspective. The majority of the population in Morocco subsists on extremely low incomes. Rapid population growth and a lowering of the death rate will cause the population to double in 23 years. In order to maintain the present low standard of living, housing, agricultural production, job opportunities and social services will also have to double their output. Malnutrition is found among more than 50% of Moroccan children under four years of age. The uneven distribution of food throughout the country and wide fluctuations in food production from year-to-year are partially responsible for this high rate of malnutrition. Tuberculosis, eye diseases such as trachoma and conjunctivitis and upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infections contribute significantly to the morbidity statistics of adults. The Moroccan public health system has grown rapidly during the past 20 years to a complex organization addressing the health problems of 80-90% of the population. One of the problems of the system is the underutilization of dispensaries for basic curative and preventive care. Another major problem is an uneven geographic distribution of facilities. Since independence, Moroccans themselves have made the major advances in the development of the Moroccan health care system, rather than outside assistance programs.