The country’s military capability consists of an army, a navy, an air force, and a paramilitary force, of which the army and the paramilitary are the most substantial. Military service is determined by selective conscription, and individuals are eligible for service from 18 years of age.

Health and welfare

The health care delivery system during the colonial period was grossly inadequate. Health care facilities were concentrated in the cities and towns, and the average expenditure per person was extremely low. Most never saw a doctor or dentist. Health care services have improved since independence, but the situation is still very poor. Infant mortality rates remain high, in large part because of diarrhea, malnutrition, and upper respiratory infections. Improper sanitation and waste treatment remain significant public health challenges, and much of the population remains undernourished. Tropical diseases, especially malaria, are widespread and entail high rates of mortality. Other health concerns include cholera, schistosomiasis, filariasis, and leprosy; mortalities resulting from automobile accidents, HIV/AIDS, and substance abuse are increasing.

Under favourable circumstances, clinics and dressing stations (first-aid centres) operate at the local level with the small hospitals that operate in the larger towns. The main hospital in Bissau routinely faces critical shortages of necessities such as drugs, bandages, anesthetics, antibiotics, and plasma. Family planning, maternal and infant health care, power and water supply, and refrigeration are all rudimentary. Although the number of hospital beds has greatly increased since independence, availability is still vastly short of need. Furthermore, since the number of nurses has not kept pace with the increase in hospital beds, nursing service has actually declined.

Education

Officially, six years of primary education is compulsory for children age 7 to 14. For those children who show scholastic promise, there are five years of secondary education. Amílcar Cabral University and the University of Colinas de Boe, both founded in 2003 and based in Bissau, provide opportunities for higher education. There are also schools for teacher training, nursing, and vocational training.

Education during the colonial period was very poor. In the 1970s only a minute proportion of the population was enrolled in primary school, and illiteracy was almost universal. During the war of national liberation (1963–74), the PAIGC attempted to address this severe problem by establishing its own school system in the liberated zones and in external bases. Nevertheless, education in the context of the war was predictably difficult, and enrollment was inconsistent.

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Guinea-Bissau’s educational system continues to face serious challenges. Only some two-fifths of school-age children attend school, and adult illiteracy remains high, particularly among women. The civil warfare of 1998–99 greatly disturbed a number of services, the educational system among them; progress in its reestablishment has been slow. There is also a shortage of teaching staff in rural areas in particular, where teachers themselves are frequently not well educated and where the ratio of students to teachers is very high.

Cultural milieu

Five centuries of the “civilizing mission” of Portuguese colonialism did not penetrate deeply in Guinea-Bissau, and African culture and traditions are very much in place. These include the intact African languages with their associated folklore, sayings, dances, and music. Cape Verdean music—such as funana, a fast-paced genre that features the gaita, an accordion-like instrument, and finaçon, performed by female vocalists—has become increasingly popular in cities and towns.

Daily life and social customs

Christian holidays, including Christmas, and Muslim holidays, including Tabaski (also known as Eid al-Adha, marking the culmination of the hajj rites near Mecca) and Korité (also known as Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan), are observed in Guinea-Bissau. In addition to these, the death of Amílcar Cabral is observed on January 20, Labour Day on May 1, and the Anniversary of the Movement of Readjustment on November 14.

The arts

The government organizes formal expressions of national culture through the national arts institute, which maintains a school of music and dance and conducts periodic concerts and folkloric programs. A wide array of traditional music, dance, dress, and handicrafts remain deeply rooted in village and ethnic life.

Cultural institutions

The Museum of Guinea-Bissau and the national library are located in Bissau. The National Institute of Studies and Research, also located in Bissau, was among the institutions badly damaged during the fighting of 1998–99. With international support, a restoration program began in 2000.

Sports and recreation

There are many traditional African sports in Guinea-Bissau, but wrestling is among the oldest and most popular. A means of martial arts training and a rite of passage, it is common in villages. The African board game of ouri, a forerunner of backgammon, is played throughout the country. Football (soccer) is the most popular Western sport in Guinea-Bissau. The country features several clubs, and since 1986 its football federation has been a member of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Basketball has also developed a following, and the national federation is affiliated with the International Basketball Federation. Diving and swimming are popular on the country’s islands, and excellent fishing conditions can be found in the rivers and coastal areas.

Guinea-Bissau’s national Olympic committee, which was established in 1992, was recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1995. The country made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games, where it competed in wrestling events.

Media and publishing

A number of radio stations operate in Guinea-Bissau. There are a limited number of television stations, including one run by the state. A number of newspapers and periodicals are circulated in the country, including the government newspaper, Nô Pintcha, and Correio-Bissau, which is distributed weekly. After the overthrow of Pres. Kumba Ialá in 2003, media conditions, which had grown repressive, were improved. Lack of financing and power supply are two significant challenges that continue to hinder the growth of Guinea-Bissau’s media capabilities.