Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BEFORE YOU GO
A little predeparture planning will save you trouble later. Get a check-up from your dentist
and from your doctor if you have any regular medication or chronic illness, eg 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 ne-
cessary vaccinations.
Travellers can register with the
International Association for Medical Advice to Trav-
ellers
(IAMAT;
www.iamat.org
)
, which provides directories of certified doctors. If you'll
be spending much time in more remote areas, consider doing a first-aid course (contact the
Red Cross or St John's Ambulance), or attending a remote medicine first-aid course, such
as that offered by
Wilderness Medical Training
(WMT;
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 directly to providers,
or will reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures. In Botswana and Namibia,
most doctors expect payment in cash. It's vital to ensure that your travel insurance will cov-
er any emergency transport required to get you to a hospital in a major city, 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 assistance, 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.
Recommended Vaccinations
The
World Health Organization
(
www.who.int/en/
)
recommends that all travellers be
covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio, as well as for hepatitis
B, regardless of their destination. The consequences of these diseases can be severe, and
outbreaks do occur.
