, , ,

Common Diseases in Monaco Life Expectancy

Common Diseases in Monaco

Monaco is best known as one of Europe’s microstates and a favorite destination of the wealthy. Like any country, there are common diseases in Monaco, but the good news is that they do not have much of an effect on the population’s health or longevity.

Travelers to Europe may not think they are in danger of contracting diseases, but it is entirely possible. Depending on what activities tourists participate in, according to the Centers for Disease Control, Monaco presents risks of Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and rabies. Hepatitis A is transmitted via contaminated food and water, whereas Hepatitis B is contracted through sexual contact or contaminated needles and blood products. Rabies, spread by bats in Monaco, is rare, but possible. Tourists who may be in areas with bats, or wildlife professionals who may be in close contact with them should get vaccinated for rabies.

Some of the more common diseases among residents of Monaco include various types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Monaco is an extremely healthy country. Residents benefit from the Monaco Health Screening Centre, established as a preventative health resource. The most common cancers in Monaco are breast and bowel cancer. Monaco is confident that vaccinating for cervical cancer, which is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), along with screening will lead to the eradication of the disease. The Centre also screens for osteoporosis, breast cancer and HIV. The majority of patients who come to the Centre for breast cancer screenings are proactive in doing regular breast exams on their own.

Because there is considerable wealth in Monaco, it is no surprise that the average life expectancy is 89.73 years. Rich countries have more money to spend on healthcare. Preventative measures go a long way in catching serious diseases and illnesses which might lead to death if not detected early.

Cardiovascular disease also exists in Monaco, with 114 deaths per 100,000 people. Monaco ranks 188 out of 189 in this regard, with Japan having the lowest number of deaths from cardiovascular disease. Common diseases in Monaco are similar to other developed countries, but because of early screenings and other preventative measures, those illnesses are not as much of a threat.

– Gloria Diaz

Photo: Google

, , ,

Methods of Fighting Hunger from Monaco

Hunger in MonacoAlthough Monaco is one of the smallest countries in the world, second to the Vatican, it has the highest per capita GDP. The rich flock to Monaco because of the lack of income tax, events such as the Grand Prix and the luxurious lifestyle. It follows that the rate of hunger in Monaco is very low.

This does not mean that hunger is off the radar in Monaco. In fact, Monaco is globally known as a nation helping in the fight against hunger. The leaders in this fight are the nearly 6,000 students that make up the country’s education system. The students work in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), a humanitarian organization working to end worldwide hunger. Thus far, they have raised thousands of dollars and millions of grains of rice to feed the world’s hungry. They do this through a trivia game.

Freerice is an online trivia game by the WFP that both educates the students of Monaco on the issue of world hunger and provides rice to those that need it. It has become the equivalent of a “national sport” in Monaco, with students raising over a million grains of rice in a period of fewer than six months.

“Freerice offers the perfect blend of humanitarian and educational. The Directorate for Education is pleased to engage our students in the fight against hunger, a pressing issue of our time and a priority for the Monegasque government,” Ms. Muriel Bubbio explained in an article by the WFP. “We strongly believe that learning about other countries and continents such as Africa and Asia requires understanding on global issues such as hunger and how one can contribute to addressing these challenges at an individual, local and national level,” she noted.

This is certainly important in an age in which the world is more interconnected through technology than ever before, and what is even better is it is effective.

In November 2011 alone, the student community in Monaco raised over 8,000 euros for the children in Kenya affected by the Horn of Africa crisis through a bake and trinket sale.

More recently, Monaco attended the 40th Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. in Rome. It was represented by H.E. Mr. Robert Fillon, Monaco’s Ambassador to Italy and the Principality’s Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization; Elisabeth Lanteri-Minet, Director of International Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Martine Garcia-Mascarenhas, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Monaco in Rome. Overall, the conference focused on climate change, sustainable agriculture, food security, hunger and nutrition.

Monaco’s attendance at the conference shows its continued commitment to hunger worldwide, despite the fact that hunger in Monaco is not very common.

– Sydney Roeder

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Leading by Example: Refugees in Monaco

Refugees in Monaco
Located between a small strip of the southern French border and the Mediterranean Sea is the Principality of Monaco, the second smallest state in the world. With such a small territory and just 30,581 citizens, one might assume that the principality would be reluctant to host refugees. However, Monaco has gladly accepted some refugees. Here are 10 facts about refugees in Monaco.

  1. Monaco will be accepting refugees in limited numbers due to their small size.
  2. Serge Telle, the Monegasque Minister of State, has said that such welcoming of refugees is largely symbolic.
  3. In June 2016, Monaco, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), welcomed a family of Christian Syrian refugees. Christian populations are often heavily threatened in Syria.
  4. In March 2008, Prince Albert II of Monaco announced that Monaco would donate 100,000 euros to the UNHCR refugee program.
  5. Monaco has previously supported the UNHCR’s work by fundraising through Amitié Sans Frontières, which translates to “Friends Without Borders.”
  6. Currently, an immigrant must reside in Monaco for 10 years in order to acquire citizenship through naturalization.
  7. Monaco does not accept refugees unless those refugees meet French criteria. This has been established through bilateral agreements between the principality and France.
  8. The principality has acceded to the Geneva Convention of 1951 and the Protocol of 1967, which is the most recognized international law regarding refugees.
  9. An international NGO, based in Monaco, known as the International Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA), launched an all-day event called “Refugee Voices in Film” at the Cannes Music Festival.
  10. The film project was done in collaboration with the UNHCR.

In lieu of the Syrian refugee crisis, the Principality of Monaco has chosen to lead by example. Despite the principality’s small size, there are now refugees in Monaco, integrating and on their way to lead happy lives. Hopefully, the rest of the world will follow suit.

– Shannon Golden
Photo: Flickr

, , ,

Care Helps Limit Top Diseases in Monaco

top diseases in Monaco
Monaco already is making records with the highest life expectancy in the world. The average expectancy is 90 years old, which crushes the average worldwide life expectancy of 72. Monaco has a very small population, coming in at 37,731 in 2015. There aren’t many of the top diseases in Monaco that aren’t seen around the world, yet communicable diseases are coming in very low at just 6%. Non-communicable deaths account for 86% of the total number of fatalities in the country.

Non-communicable deaths account for the vast majority of the deaths and diseases in Monaco. Just more than a quarter of all non-communicable deaths are people under the age of 60. Just about 17% of males die before reaching the age of 60, while females are sitting at about 8.5%.

The top two of the top diseases in Monaco are cardiovascular diseases at 33% and the various cancers at 28% of total deaths in Monaco. These are both on the higher end of both of these spectrums as compared to the rest of the world. Cancers, especially, usually have a lower proportional mortality percentage. The treatment and care for those that are stricken with these diseases are very good in Monaco thus contributing to its very high life expectancy.

Injuries and other communicable diseases make up just 14% of the diseases in Monaco. It is fairly common for communicable diseases to be very low around the world in each country.

The only two risk factors that were stated in 2008 by the World Health Organization were physical inactivity and tobacco use. This is a good trend with the majority of the other risk factors not existent among the citizens of Monaco.

Monaco is a fairly safe area to travel to with the majority of the country in the higher income group and better off than most of the world. Just routine vaccinations should be enough before leaving.

Monaco is a country with a lot of wealth and resources to be able to take care of those that are in need. The life expectancy is not all that surprising when looking at the resources at hand to help those that need it.

– Brendin Axtman

Photo: Flickr

, , ,

Education in Monaco


Inside France, right off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea lies the small city-state of Monaco. With just about 38,000 people inhabiting an area less than one square mile, it is the second smallest country in the world. Though Monaco is no bigger than a typical city, the education in Monaco is widely available — as the literacy rate in the country sits at 99 percent.

There are six state-run preschools and elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and a technical and hotel school. As for private schools — there are two, an elementary school and high school.

The lower level education in Monaco is plentiful, as well as the higher level education. There are three established institutions within the country. These institutions include — a Nursing Training Institute, the University of Monaco, and the Monaco Art School.

The University of Monaco was established in 1986 and is particularly distinguished for its Masters of Business Administration program. Their MBA has ranked as 91 in The Economist’s Top Full-Time MBA Programs. They were also ranked 4 out of 5 stars by Eduniversal Business School Rankings.

In Monaco schools, English is taught from the age of three. This is vital as the classes at the University of Monaco are taught in English. According to Hello Monaco — the leading news and information site on education in Monaco — religion is also taught in schools, though parents have the right to opt their children out of these lessons. The history and language of the land are taught as well.

The education in Monaco also offers a variety of scholarships and grants. The scholarships include study grants, foreign language development grants, and subsidies for school lunches. The subsidy is intended to help pupils’ parents or legal guardians with the cost of school meals. Though in order to obtain this subsidy, the parents need to be either widowed, divorced, be employed, or have at least three children living at home.

The education in Monoca is established and continues to offer its youth a variety of options to cultivate their future.

– Vicente Vera

Photo: Flickr

, ,

Poverty in Monaco: A Dream Come True

Poverty in Monaco
Poverty in Monaco? The nation is a sovereign city-state that lies along the southern border of France with its toes in the French Riviera. It is the second smallest sovereign nation on earth being only slightly larger than the Vatican. The population is only about 38,000 people. With the size being only about 0.78 square miles, it is possible to walk the width of the country within an hour.

Monaco has two major sources of income: tourism and millionaires purchasing properties. As a result, the poverty line has been all but erased, with everyone being above it. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2009, Monaco is “NA [not-applicable]” for statistics on the national population below the poverty line because there are none.

One-third of the population is made up of millionaires. Monaco’s population is only 16% Monegasque in origin while the other 84% are wealthy outsiders. With 47% French nationals, and the other 37% a combination of Italians, Britons, Belgians, Germans and Americans (and recognizing that Monaco is only 38,000 people strong), the imposition of foreigners is unusual.

Monaco does not charge income tax on its residents. This hefty tax break attracts many of the globe’s rich and famous to its shores. According to WealthInsight, one-third of the population of Monaco is made up of millionaires. That means that if 12 people were walking down the streets of Monaco, at least four of them would have platinum cards in their pockets and millions of dollars in their bank accounts.

Monaco began its tradition of no income tax in 1869 after the creation of the Grand Casino de Monte Carlo. In 1858, when the Casino had its grand opening, it “[had] been so successful in bringing in profits that the government decided to stop collecting income taxes from residents,” according to Eric Goldschien in Business Insider Magazine.

Tourism is a big income earner. One of Monaco’s only income-earning industries is tourism and with its beautiful climate and crowd-drawing sites like the Grand Prix and five major casinos, three of which being in Monte Carlo, it is an easy means for capital. In Professor Michael Porter’s paper Monaco’s Tourism Cluster, he states that “Monaco has, for over a century, successfully made tourism…its biggest income earner…”

The many areas of tourism in Monaco include hotels/spas, restaurants/bars, gambling, conferences, sports, tour operators, health/medical and culture/leisure activities. With all of these major tourism sectors hard at work, the income turnover for Monaco totals 100 billion euros, which is roughly equivalent to 105,775,000,000 dollars.

A Monegasque family’s monthly budget averages higher than global comparisons. Paul Nayakazeya in The Financial Gazette compared the average consumer basket of a family in Zimbabwe to that of a family in Monaco.

A consumer basket explains the way a family spends its money by monitoring the most commonly bought foods, household items and services that are offered in the consumer market. Anything a person can buy, be it a sandwich or a haircut, is included in the consumer market and examined in a family’s basket, i.e. the purchased commodities.

A family of six in Zimbabwe will spend roughly 561 dollars in one month, while a family of five in Monaco will spend an average of 12,000 dollars.

The government reinvests tourism earnings and other capital gains back into the community to improve the quality of life and to entice the wealthy to continue traveling and buying properties. Even though these improvements are meant to attract foreigners with money, the natives benefit from it as well, effectively creating a virtually nonexistent poverty line within their tiny, proud and sovereign nation.

– Karyn Adams

Photo: Flickr