Togo - West Africa - page 1010

BEFORE YOU GO
A little planning before departure, particularly for pre-existing illnesses, will save you a lot of trouble later. Before a long
trip get a check-up from your dentist and from your doctor if you take any regular medication or have a chronic illness,
such as high blood pressure or asthma. You should also organise spare contact lenses and glasses (and take your optical
prescription with you), get a first aid and medical kit together, and arrange necessary vaccinations.
It's tempting to leave it all to the last minute - don't! Many vaccines don't take effect until two weeks after you've
been immunised, so visit a doctor four to eight weeks before departure. Ask your doctor for an International Certificate of
Vaccination (otherwise known as the yellow booklet or livre jeune ), which will list all the vaccinations you've received.
This is mandatory for the African countries that require proof of yellow-fever vaccination upon entry, but it's a good idea
to carry it wherever you travel in case you require medical treatment or encounter troublesome border officials.
Travellers can register with the International Association for Medical Advice to Travellers (IAMAT;
www.iamat.org ) . Its website can help travellers find a doctor who has recognised training. Those heading off to very re-
mote areas might like to do a first-aid course (contact the Red Cross or St John Ambulance) or attend a remote medicine
first-aid course, such as that offered by the Royal Geographical Society ( www.wildernessmedicaltraining.co.uk ) .
If you are bringing medications with you, carry them in their original containers, clearly labelled. A signed and dated
letter from your physician describing all medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good
idea. If carrying syringes or needles, be sure to have a physician's letter documenting their medical necessity.
Insurance
Find out in advance whether your insurance plan will make payments to providers or will reimburse you later for overseas
health expenditures (in many countries doctors expect payment in cash). It's vital to ensure that your travel insurance will
cover the emergency transport required to get you to a hospital in a major city, to better facilities elsewhere in Africa, or
all the way home by air and with a medical attendant if necessary. Not all insurance covers this, so check the contract
carefully. If you need medical help, your insurance company might be able to help locate the nearest hospital or clinic, or
you can ask at your hotel. In an emergency, contact your embassy or consulate.
The African Medical and Research Foundation (Amref; www.amref.org ) provides an air-evacuation service in med-
ical emergencies in some African countries, as well as air-ambulance transfers between medical facilities. Money paid by
members to their flying doctor service entitles you to air-ambulance evacuation and the funds go into providing grassroots
medical assistance for local people.
MANDATORY YELLOW-FEVER VACCINATION
» North Africa Not mandatory for any of North Africa, but Algeria, Libya and Tunisia require evidence of yellow-
fever vaccination if entering from an infected country. It is recommended for travellers to Sudan and might be giv-
en to unvaccinated travellers leaving the country.
» Central Africa Mandatory in Central African Republic (CAR), Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equat-
orial Guinea and Gabon, and recommended in Chad.
» West Africa Mandatory in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Niger, São
Tomé and Príncipe and Togo, and recommended for The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Mauritania, Nigeria,
Senegal and Sierra Leone.
» East Africa Mandatory in Rwanda; it is advised for Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.