Home   Student Electives   Preparing your Elective   Preparing for your Medical Elective - in a resource poor country

The FCO website of the UK government contains a wealth of travel advice and is worth a visit. www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390572
The WHO site provides a useful list of contents for a basic medical kit and advice on other health matters - whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2005/9241580364_chap1.pdf . As a minimum, you should include plasters, cotton wool, scissors, tweezers, paracetamol and aspirin tablets, antiseptic cream, anti-diarrhoeal tablets & some oral rehydration salts, thermometer, insect repellent, emollient eye drops, sterile needles and syringes. It would be useful to have a supply of surgical gloves with you for emergency use, e.g. involvement in attending a RTA.

Take a plentiful supply of any personal medications (and remember the generic name in case of need). Girls - take enough tampons to last 3 months. If you wear glasses or contact lenses remember to take a spare pair and your prescription.

Drink only water that has been boiled or water/drinks from unopened commercial bottles. You might consider taking a water filter with you. Be careful with ice and ice creams and only eat food which you have either seen freshly cooked or prepared yourself. Avoid salads/fruit that you haven't seen washed. Eat only fruit that you have peeled yourself. Drink plenty and take extra salt on occasions in hot climates. A wide brimmed sun hat and some sun screen are essentials in tropical sunshine.

Avoid swimming in lakes or rivers unless you know they are free of schistosomiasis and crocodiles! Keep your feet covered. Find out from the locals about any risks peculiar to the area, and how to deal with and avoid them - snakes, leeches, tumbu fly, spiders or scorpions. Rabies can be a serious hazard. Don't handle strange animals. Wash any bites thoroughly with soap and water, check on the vaccination status of the animal and see a doctor – asap.

Avoid traveling after dusk, as far as you can, and wear a seat belt if at all possible. Never resist violent theft. Keep abreast of the local and regional political scene in the media and be aware of the local laws and attitudes to alcohol.

BUT - don't be put off! These things all part of the challenge. The local people have to cope with them all the time. They would find a London street a nightmare – it's all a matter of perspective! You will very quickly adapt to the new situation.