health care
10 tips for a healthy trip
1. Good preparation is everything: Before you leave, find out about the health risks in your destination country.
2. Put together a first-aid kit.
3. Make sure you always drink enough.
4. Find out about local tap water quality and, if necessary, avoid food that has come into contact with it.
5. Pay attention to personal hygiene.
6. Your health comes first: Avoid contact with sick people.
7. Protect yourself from HIV infection in everyday life and through contraception during sexual contacts.
8. Protect yourself from malaria with long clothing, mosquito nets and insect repellent.
9. No medical self-sufficiency! Inform the local RGV team and get a medical check-up if you feel ill.
10. Go for a follow-up after your trip to make sure you're okay.
Preventive - what should I pay attention to before leaving?
Preparation and first orientation
If you have decided to work abroad as a volunteer or intern, you should deal with the topic of health care before you leave. In Africa and Asia there are sometimes different diseases than in Europe.
To protect yourself well, you should take a few precautions. Health risks can be minimized with thorough health care!
Where to find helpful info
In order to start your adventure as well prepared as possible, you should seek advice on various channels. As there are often compulsory vaccinations (e.g. yellow fever vaccination in some areas) it is good to find out in advance so that you have enough time for the organisation.
The internet is of course a helpful source for initial orientation Foreign Office you can, for example, get an overview of the hygiene situation, health risks and mandatory vaccinations in your destination country.
On too fit-for-travel.de you will find useful information. On the website of Robert Koch Institute you will find a list of specialists in tropical medicine throughout Germany. There are also numerous blogs and testimonials from other travelers that will provide you with very helpful first-hand tips.
Consultation of a tropical medicine
It also makes sense to contact a doctor who specializes in tropical medicine to discuss general and personal measures.
Your first-aid kit
It is best to put together a small medicine chest before you leave, in which you can take aspirin and anti-diarrheal medicine with you, for example, so that you are prepared for emergencies.
Active - How should I behave locally?
Drinking water, tap water and germs in your destination country
Once in the country, you should observe a few safety measures for your own protection. The climate in your destination country is likely to be different than what you are used to at home and it will take you a while to acclimate. To avoid headaches, dizziness and dehydration, you should always drink enough, preferably two to three liters a day in hot countries.
Attention: In many countries, tap water is not sterile and should only be boiled and drunk. That's why it's also important to keep your hands off ice cubes and fruit that are sold at small stands and cleaned with tap water. After your arrival, it is best to find out from your host family or a member of the RGV how the drinking water quality is in the country.
In order to avoid germs when eating, this should also be boiled and not heated up if possible. Of course you will get to know new foods and especially at the beginning of your journey it may take your body a while to get used to it. This can lead to diarrhea or other digestive problems.
If possible, you should be equipped in your first-aid kit for this case, but the same applies here: always drink enough so that the body does not lose too much fluid. To further stabilize your water balance, you can also take electrolytes. If you feel ill, you should not try to take care of yourself, but inform our RGV team and have yourself examined by a doctor.
Always pay attention to good hygiene!
Especially when you work with people in your project, hygiene is extremely important. This also includes washing your hands thoroughly, especially before eating and after using the toilet, to avoid infections caused by germs. You should avoid touching stray cats and dogs, even if it is sometimes difficult.
HIV / AIDS
Unfortunately, HIV/AIDS is still a big issue in Africa. Even if the numbers are slowly falling as a result of aid projects and education, in some regions almost half of the adult population is still infected.
The highest risk of infection is still during sexual intercourse, so that the risk of transmission in everyday life when dealing with infected people is very low. If you are still unsure about possible transmission routes or the risk of infection, we recommend that you contact liebesleben.de for information.
Malaria
The risk of malaria varies from region to region. If your destination country is in a risk area, you should consult a doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of chemoprophylactic agents before you leave. There is no vaccination against malaria. Since the disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, be sure to bring insect repellent with you.
We recommend the proven insect repellent Nobite, as it is very effective. You can also protect yourself from bites by wearing body-covering clothing and a mosquito net. The symptoms of malaria are initially similar to a strong flu and in general: don't try to take care of yourself! If you feel ill, inform the RGV team and get a medical examination.
Zika virus
The Zika virus made headlines around the world at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. With the exception of Chile and Uruguay, initial infections have been detected in all Latin American countries. The disease is often accompanied by fever, skin rash, headache and conjunctivitis.
The disease usually takes a mild course – only a quarter of those affected develop any symptoms at all. But in unborn children, the virus can lead to skull deformities, for example.
There is no vaccination against it. Therefore, despite the declining number of infections, precautionary measures should be observed. Since the virus primarily spreads via yellow fever mosquitoes and direct blood exchange, protection against mosquitoes should also be taken here.
Remember: Your health is going!
If you meet people who are obviously ill on your trip or during your project work, for example with a strong cough or weeping wounds, avoid contact if you see yourself at risk. If you still have to deal with sick people - for example in ours medicine projects - so use plastic gloves to avoid direct skin contact.
Back at home
Arrived safely at home, it is advisable to go to the follow-up examination. The climatic and diet-related changes during your trip can have been exhausting for your body and it is not always so easy to put down. It is best to have your family doctor examine you thoroughly and take your blood to make sure you are not wrong.
We wish you a healthy journey!
