Health Travel Tips for Travelers to Uganda
Uganda is a country located in a tropical climatic region and a traveler should take precaution so as to keep healthy. Below are some of the healthy tips one can keep in order to stay healthy.
It is a mandatory requirement for one visiting Uganda to first have a yellow fever vaccination and obtain a certificate before travel or entering Uganda through any of its border crossings like Entebbe Airport, Malaba, Cyanika, Katuna, Mutukula and Ishasha, boarder posts.
Protection against Malaria
The Malaria prophylaxis is a must have on any trip to Uganda since it is situated in an equatorial climate which is hot and humid ideal for mosquitoes. Weekly Mefloquine, daily Doxycyline or weekly Chbroquine with daily Paludrine are recommended prophylactic agents. These should be used only as an adjunct to physical preventative measures such as mosquito nets, insect repellant and protective clothing. It sometimes advised you also carry a course of treatment if visiting the remote areas of the country. A week prior to your trip one should consult their personal physician or travel advisory clinic recommendations.
A person visiting Uganda should have effective vaccinations against mainly Hepatitis and Meningitis that usually attacks in the dry seasons of December. Rabies vaccination is not recommended unless you plan to handle animals like dogs.
Boil or Disinfect Drinking Water
It is recommended that one should drink bottled water whilst in Uganda or purify all water by boiling or steering with iodine or chlorine tablets. One should also be careful when eating local foods and peel or wash all fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help against a range of diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, stomach upsets, dysentery cholera to mention but a few.
It is advisable that tourists bring basic medical kits, although most medical supplies may be purchased in Uganda like bandages, cotton wool, a variety of sticking plasters, mercurochrome or similar disinfectant, anal thermometer and anti-histamine cream. Medical facilities are limited outside Kampala hence it is advisable for one to have health insurance in case of emergency.
Use Protection
If one must have sexual intercourse with anyone they have met in the country, it is advisable to use protection like condoms as the HIV / AIDS prevalence rates are high. It is also recommended you carry along your own condoms as there are a lot of counterfeit condoms.
Have body Protection Products
It is advisable to have sunscreen or wear sunglasses/shades for protection against the suns heat, dust, bacteria and insects.
