Medical Precautions and Requirements


COVID-19

For information about travel to Ghana in the time of Covid-19, as well as our Covid-19 Policies, please refer to this page: Covid-19 Advisory

Malaria and Avoiding Mosquitoes

The mosquito is the most dangerous animal in Africa by far! It is essential that casual visitors to Ghana take proper precautions against mosquitoes and the malaria that some may be carrying.

Taking a prophylaxis is no guarantee that you will not get malaria if bitten, but do not over-react and think that every mosquito bite is deadly.

While you may have heard that malaria-carring mosquitos come at dusk and dawn, there are many types of mosquitos traveling at all hours of day and night. These beasts can also transmit a number of other maladies, so it is best to avoid mosquitoes as best as possible.

For protection, stay in open, sunny, breezy areas and wear light colored, loose fitting long pants and long-sleeve shirts, shoes and socks. Mosquitoes can bite through T-shirts and other lightweight, tight-fitting clothing. Mosquitoes are attracted by motion, heat, the trail of carbon-dioxide (CO2) in your exhaled breath, the smell of Lactic Acid, found on your skin when exercising, and other elements of your skin biotics. Scientists estimate that genetics account for 85% of your appeal to mosquitos.

Mosquitoes do tend to prefer men over women, adults more than children, and larger people. Larger bodies produce more heat, more carbon dioxide and have more body mass to bite. Sleeping with a strong fan makes it difficult for mosquitoes to find you and also helps prevent the ability of these insects to fly. They also can love the bacteria that grows at your ankles, so keep your feet washed well.

Be sure you bring a DEET-based mosquito repellant, as these are difficult to find in Ghana. After extensive testing, the US military has determined that a 35% time-release (micro-encapsulated) formulation offers best coverage with the least side effects. Anything in the range 20%-35% will be effective in most situations.

Use of DEET with sun-block lowers the efficacy of the sun-block. So, more frequent applications of sunscreen will be needed for adequate solar protection. Apply the sunscreen first, let it dry, then spray the DEET over the top of the sunscreen. DEET works by inhibiting signals from the mosquitoes' antennae and making it difficult for them to find you. It does not stun or kill mosquitos.

Treat your clothing before you arrive with a Permethrin spray. This is very effective as it does kill or stun insects that come in contact with the treated fabric. Permethrin will remain in fabric for 6 or more washings. Both DEET and Permethrin sprays may found at any camping goods dealer.

There are three choices for an anti-malarial prophylactic drugs:

While locals you talk to in Ghana may seem very casual about malaria, it is no joke to you and your virgin immune system. The first symptoms feel like the flu, with a general malaise. Quickly developing, it will give you a rapid fever and chills, make your head pound like a sledgehammer, make you vomit and give you diarrhea. If you do not get immediate treatment, you could die. Even with treatment, it is not a fun way to spend a week of your holiday recovering.

Without a test kit, malaria is not easy to diagnose, as there are many illnesses that have these same symptoms, including typhoid, meningitis and various viral fevers - some of which are also transmitted by mosquito bites. So you should always seek treatment when experiencing a rapid rise in temperature.

When in remote areas, you may wish to carry a test kit and a course of treatment. The best course is a short term (about 3 days) malarial treatment such as artesunate, available over the counter here. It wouldn’t hurt for you to purchase these inexpensive treatments before you leave to bring back with you in the event you begin to display malarial symptoms, your treatment is at hand.

Vaccinations

Only a Yellow Fever vaccination is required for entry into Ghana. You will be asked to show proof of immunization at the border.

Other vaccinations are at your discretion. If your doctor cannot obtain one for you (generally cheaper), these vaccinations are readily available at any travel clinic. There is at this time no commercially-available malaria vaccination.

Give yourself plenty of time, as not all vaccinations can be given at the same time and some are given in multiple doses. If you are going to be taking many vaccinations, it will require different appointments over a period of several weeks.

Required

Recommended

At Your Discretion

Medications

Be sure to bring your own medications. These would of course include any prescription medicine, but also some basic medical supplies. These would include:

Consultations and lab tests can be performed at a very low cost by clinics and hospitals in any large town. There are pharmacies in even mid-size towns and the medications they sell are incredibly inexpensive. Antibiotics are handed out quickly and do not require a prescription or doctor's consultation.

Remember that a bout of diarrhea or vomiting will render any medication ineffective.

Sun, Heat and Humidity

Unless accustomed to intense equatorial sun or tropical climates, the sun, heat and humidity may tire you quickly. You will sweat a lot, so be sure to keep hydrated by drinking a lot of water and cutting down on salt, caffeine and alcohol. Take a relaxed pace and siesta during the hottest part of the day.

When in the sun, use a sunscreen and wear a hat. The mosquito repellant DEET lowers the effectiveness of any sunscreen, so more frequent applications of sun-block are necessary for adequate solar protection. Apply the sunscreen first, then the DEET on top of the sunscreen.

Heatstroke, caused when the body overheats, and skin cancer, caused by exposure to the sun, can both be very serious conditions. Less severe is a heat rash, a rash of tiny bumps, usually at a friction point, such as under the arms or along the waistband of your underclothes. Take frequent baths, use talc, baby powder or baby oil and retreat to air conditioning to treat heat rash.

Follow basic good health practices. Clean and cover all breaks in your skin. In a warm, humid climate any cut can easily become infected if not kept clean.

Tropical Illnesses

There are many ways to become sick in the tropics. Following some sound precautions can ensure that you enjoy your holiday in good health.

HIV and Sexually Transmitted Illnesses

Ghana has one of the lowest overall rates of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. At 4.5%, as last reported by UNAID, this is still considerably higher than the overall HIV prevalence rate of New York City or London.

Many men in Ghana do not know how to properly use a condom, nor can they afford them. Also, the condoms available here are rather unpleasant. So unfortunately the use of this preventative measure is not widespread. This also leads to the spread of other communicable diseases, for which few get treatment.

Everyone in Africa knows their HIV ABC's. It is a message seen everywhere:

If you are having sexual relations with any person while you are visiting Ghana, it is your responsibility to ensure the good health of you and your partner. Please use appropriate precautions. Please help educate your partner. Any person will be grateful for any 'safer sex' or other health-related education that you provide. Just the basic health care knowledge you have makes you a very wise person compared to most people you will meet.

Through our 'One Extra Bag' program, we can arrange for you to donate condoms or other HIV prevention materials to a reputable organization in Ghana. Every little bit helps here.

Medical Facilities in Accra

There are a number of excellent medical facilities in Accra and all major cities have hospitals. Facilities are minimal once outside of a major town.

In Accra there are a number of recommended facilities:

"One Extra Bag" program

If possible, it would be a wonderful gift if you plan to leave behind any medicine, toiletries or other supplies that you bring to Ghana. Or better, participate in our 'One Extra Bag' program.

This program is designed to assist you to make a charitable donation to a reputable organization of your choice. We can take you and your donation to a school, clinic, orphanage, HIV prevention group, or any other such organization. You are encouraged to make the presentation yourself and see the workings of the organization that you are giving to. For many people, this event is the highlight of their visit.

To encourage your participation, Easy Track Ghana will give you a free airport pick-up for any full bag of supplies that you bring to donate. Thank you for your participation in this important program!

One Final Note

After reading this page, we frightened even ourselves! The words above are almost as frightening as this advertisement seen in Accra.

Just remember that the information written on this page is a sample of the worst in Ghana, or any tropical climate. While these things do exist here, the chances of your becoming sick with anything other than a heat rash or traveler's diarrhea is very small. You can almost guarantee a healthy trip if you remember to use your:

Invite friends & family:

It is our responsibility to keep to safe and healthy when visiting!








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