Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BEFORE YOU GO
Get a check-up with your dentist and your doctor six to eight weeks before coming to Mad-
agascar to ensure you are up to date with immunisations, to discuss malaria prophylaxis and
to make sure tooth decay won't turn into an abscess while you're away.
Insurance
Find out in advance whether your insurance plan will make payments directly to providers
orwillreimburseyoulaterforoverseashealthexpenditures(mostmedicalfacilitiesanddoc-
tors in Madagascar expect payment upfront).
It's vital to ensure that your travel insurance will cover the emergency transport required
to get you to a good hospital - in South Africa or Réunion, or all the way home - by air
and with a medical attendant if necessary. Not all insurance plans cover this, so check the
contract carefully.
Medical Checklist
It's a good idea to carry a medical and first-aid kit with you. Following is a list of items you
should consider packing. Contact-lens wearers should also make sure they have spares and
plenty of lens solution.
»Acetaminophen (paracetamol) or aspirin
»Adhesive or paper tape
»Antibacterial ointment for cuts and abrasions
»Antibiotics (if travelling off the beaten track)
»Antidiarrhoeal drugs (eg loperamide)
»Antihistamines (for hay fever and allergic reactions)
»Anti-inflammatory drugs (eg ibuprofen)
»Antimalaria pills
»Bandages, gauze and gauze rolls
»Insect repellent for the skin
»Insect spray for clothing, tents and bed nets
»Iodine tablets (for water purification)
»Oral rehydration salts
»Scissors, tweezers and safety pins
»Steroid cream or hydrocortisone cream (for rashes)
»Sunblock (very difficult to find in Madagascar)
»Syringes and sterile needles (if travelling off the beaten track)
»Thermometer
