KENYA HEALTH

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS IN GENERAL
Yellow Fever inoculation is necessary and must be done no later than 10 days prior to departure, (If you have had previous Liver disorders you must consult your physician first). Your International Vaccination Certificate must be taken with you.

Nearly all safari lodges will also carry a comprehensive medical aid kit. In the unlikely event of serious accidents while on safari you're likely to be treated by AMREF (The Flying Doctors Service), East Africa's largest air ambulance service which has planes fuelled & ready to go 24 hours a day. Each plane is equipped with trauma nurses & life support systems, so treatment can begin as soon as they reach the casualty. Members are evacuated for free & with no need to consult an insurance agent. And if you don't need their services during your trip to East Africa, your money helps to maintain a vital medical service to millions of local people.
Most of your travel service providers will subscribe to AMREF and the chances are your own travel insurance taken our in your resident country will be linked with AMREF to cover any treatment made – please ensure you are covered in this way.

OTHER HEALTH TIPS:
There are obviously many areas of discussion so only brief but relevant points have been listed below:

• It is unlikely you will contract any serious disease while in East Africa.

• The only compulsory vaccination required for Kenya is Yellow Fever and as a precaution, visitors arriving from places where there is cholera should also bring evidence of recent inoculation. Recommended jabs however are diphtheria & tetanus, hepatitis, polio & meningitis, and typhoid.

• MALARIA is endemic year round throughout Kenya in all areas below 2000 metres (6500 feet). The malaria form that is common in Kenya is resistant to chloroquine and sulfodixine / pyrimethamine so it is important to avoid being bitten and visitors should consider taking a recommended prophylactic. Precautions should be taken to avoid being bitten by application of insect repellents and using nets at night. If staying in a bungalow/tent, spray with an insecticide like to kill any mosquitoes, which may have flown into your room, mosquito coils are also effective. Also wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers / slacks in the evenings. Having presented all the above information and cautions, malaria is not a serious problem if people are sensible and take basic precautions. You can also visit http://www.malaria.org.za and http://www.malaria.org.za/risk.htm

• Sadly Kenya has been highly affected by AIDS & HIV. You are strongly advised to avoid sexual contact, exposure to blood or dirty syringe needles. Request any syringe to be unwrapped in front of you if you should require treatment but again bear in mind that with MARS (see above) and private clinics or hospitals this can almost be guaranteed. All blood donations are screened but obviously there is no absolute guarantee that blood may not be infected.

• Bilharzia: is quite common in the freshwater lakes & rivers of Africa so avoid swimming in them where possible. However in the unlikely event of bilharzia being contracted, it is easily diagnosed by a simple blood test and effectively treated with biltracide.

• Tsetse flies are large daytime feeding flies, they prefer shady conditions and are attracted to movement, carbon dioxide and lactic acid secretions. You are advised to wear light coloured lightweight clothing, avoid deep blue and black, as tsetse flies are attracted to these colours. Tsetse flies are only found in some of the lowland areas of the country.

• Be sensible about exposure to the sun and the heat in general as this may cause heat stroke or exhaustion – eat salt on your foods, drink liquids regularly and wear protective sun creams and clothing.

• If you suffer from allergies, bring your own prescriptive medicine.

• Other useful medical aid kit items to bring along are: antihistamine (insect bites, itches, allergies), Imodium or equivalent (for diarrhoea), antiseptic cream (for minor injuries), painkillers, a few rolls of crepe bandages and stretch plasters.

FOR MORE COMPREHENSIVE ADVICE ON TRAVEL HEALTH SEE:

• World Health Organisation
  http://www.who.int/en/

• US Centre for Disease Control & Prevention,
   http://www.cdc.gov/

WHAT TO BRING:

MEDICATION
Most essentials are available anywhere in Kenya. However, if you are on specific drugs, prescribed drugs for prolonged periods, you are advised to carry adequate dosages to cover your safari as pharmaceutical products tend to be much more costly in Kenya. It is also worth carrying a spare pair of eyeglasses and if that fails, take a prescription that would enable you to get another pair. Things like drugs are inordinately expensive in Kenya. Contact lens solutions are available in Nairobi and Mombasa although occasionally supplies run out, so bring your own.

CLOTHES
For most of the year, the standard safari outfit is ideal for bush travel. Carry a hat to avoid eyestrain and sunstroke. In the cities and towns, western business convention prevails – tailored suit, shirt and tie, otherwise smart casual is acceptable. June to August have cool days and chilly nights so include some warm cardigans and sweaters. Smart medium weight clothes will suffice for the evenings. Women will find cotton dresses cooler and more comfortable than trousers, particularly for daytime wear. Baggy trousers rather than skin tight jeans are obviously better ventilated. Specialized sports clothes, including swimwear, should be packed.
Generally clothing should be khaki, green or other neutral colours suitable for guided walks. Avoid dark colour clothing during the day as these attract tsetse flies (endemic to lowland national parks) and their bites can be fairly discomforting. "Smart casual" wear requested by some lodges and hotels refers mainly to men – slacks not jeans, no t-shirts, no sandals but rather closed shoes. In most private lodges, dress requirements are fairly relaxed. Light weight walking boots, sunglasses, hats and caps are suitable all year round bring at least one high factor sunscreen.

MEDICAL SERVICES
Medical services in Kenya are good in urban areas and in the vicinity of game parks and beaches, but are limited elsewhere. Doctors and hospitals often require immediate cash payment, but usually accept major credit cards. It is advisable to secure medical cover on your medical insurance before arriving in the country. Note that major hotels have contracts with physicians and dentists. Visitors are however advised to bring along supplies of specialised medication they may require. Otherwise, medicine may be purchased at pharmacies and emergency pharmacies are open all night.

AFRICA AIR RESCUE (AAR) ACTION TOURIST COVER.
The company provides rescue and evacuation by air and road within East Africa Only. The rescue and evacuation by air and road is for all Top Africa Safaris ltd clients and is valid from the minute the clients set foot in Kenya soil until they fly out. The cover does not include in hospital bills, overseas cover. The cover is only for residents and non-residents. For detailed information please log on to http://www.ersafari.com gives you the complete solution to the traditional procurement of the tourist cover.

As a preamble, the general assumption is that the tourist coming to Kenya has a comprehensive medical cover that will take care for any hospitalisation. In the absence of which, AAR will provide this service prorated in the following number of days:

• 1 day to 30 day stay

• 31 days to 3 months stay

• 3 months to 6 months

With the above assumption AAR will come in to provide the essential and much needed rescue and evacuation to the tourist during their safari. AAR ER Safari service do not have restriction on terms of mileage, distance etc. We cover you from any point within Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Our services are regional and look at the Eastern Africa block as one. The Tourist Cover entails the following:

• Air and Road Rescue from any point within the Eastern Africa region

• Medical Stabilisation or Treatment at the scene of the emergency.

• Emergency medical transfers to the best medical facilities in the region.

• Access to AAR medical network within the Eastern Africa region

• We organise a repatriation to home country at the cost and on advise of the tourist.

Exclusion:

• The tourist cover does not have any medical exclusion!

• Has no waiting period, provided your Tour Operator provides us with your names at least 5 days before the Safari.

• Has no age limits Cost.