How do you know if you’ve caught malaria? You’d think this was an easy question to an-
swer. It isn’t. What you need to remember is that any flu-like symptom could be malaria.
If you’re feeling off colour in a malarial area then go and get a blood test. In many parts
of the developing world, local hospitals will test you on the spot – it takes 20 minutes and
costs almost nothing. However, there are now a couple of self-testing malarial kits on the
market (ask your travel clinic about these), which can be useful if you’re far away from
medical help.
Long-term Use of Antimalarials
Travellers normally take antimalarial tablets for three months. However, if you’re volun-
teering for longer in a malarial area, you will need to take your antimalarial medicine for
longer. With the exception of chloroquine which has been known to cause retinal prob-
lems, there is no evidence that the extended use of antimalarial medication will increase
side effects or decrease effectiveness. It is best to take all the antimalarial medicine you’ll
need with you from your home country (check expiry dates), although sometimes these
drugs will be available where you’re going.
Other Insect-borne Diseases
It isn’t only malaria which is transmitted by mosquitoes but also diseases like yellow fever,
Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever. This last disease is an increasing problem because
the carrier is a daytime mosquito, which means you have to practice bite avoidance (eg
covering up and reapplication of insect repellent) during the day, which can be hard. Den-
gue fever is especially prevalent in Central America, Malaysia and Queensland (Australia)
and there are no prophylactic tablets or treatment for the disease. As most of these areas
are also malarial, it means you’ll have to make sure you’re not bitten 24 hours a day.
Food, Water & Hygiene
On your volunteer placement you will mostly prepare your own food, accept the hospital-
ity of people you know or eat in local restaurants that you trust. However, what happens at
the weekend when you travel or after your placement?
Hepatitis A, typhoid, diarrhoea and dysentery (bloody diarrhoea) are all transmitted by
poorly prepared food and impure water. As you never know what might be buried in your
food, here are a few tips to inwardly digest:
~ Always wash your hands prior to eating.
~ Avoid food that has been peeled, sliced or nicely arranged by other people because it
means it’s been handled a lot.
~ Remember that food can get contaminated by dirty dishes, cutlery, utensils and cups.
Blenders or pulpers used for fruit juices are often suspect.
~ Raw fruit and vegetables are hard to clean. Eat them only if you know they’ve been
washed in clean water or if you can safely peel them yourself. Bananas and papayas are
safe to eat in the tropics.
~ Eat only food that’s freshly prepared and piping hot – avoid hotel buffets like the plague.
~ Be wary of ice cream and se afood – although for different reasons.
~ Think twice before you drink water from the tap or brush your teeth in it.
~ Drink sealed bottled water or canned drinks where possible.
~ Avoid ice cubes in drinks: they may have been made from contaminated water.
~ The simplest way of purifying water is to bring it to a ‘roaring boil’ for three to five
minutes; otherwise use chlorine, iodine or a water purifier.
Despite all these precautions, it’s likely you will get a stomach upset. When you do, drink
as much as you can to ensure you don’t become dehydrated. In addition, use oral rehydra-
tion salts to rehydrate more quickly and drink sweet milkless tea and eat salty crackers
(if possible).Health-related Documents
When volunteering, keep the following information in a safe place in your room (or under
your hammock):More Information
Although self-diagnosis is never a good idea, it might be wise to invest in a practical book
on travellers’ health. Lonely Planet publishes a range of small Healthy Travel books, or try
Travellers’ Health: How to Stay Healthy Abroad by Dr Richard Dawood. If you’re volun-
teering off the beaten track, one of the best books is called Where There Is No Doctor: A
Village Health Care Handbook by David Werner.
Also, before you go, do as much research as you can online. The useful Australian Travel
Doctor website (www.tmvc.com.au) has free online travel health advisory reports with rec-
ommended vaccination lists for every country based on the time of year and the duration
of stay.Money
There are three main ways of taking or accessing your money while abroad: debit and
credit cards; travellers cheques; and cash. If you are volunteering in a town or city you
might be able to use all three. Whichever combination works for you, remember to keep
receipts in case they’re needed as proof either within the country you’re volunteering in or
when you leave.
If your volunteer placement is rural, it is possible that you’ll rely mainly on cash (make
sure to get some small-denomination notes). Robin Glegg, who has volunteered in Siberia,
Namibia and Oman, advises:
Take cash in US dollars. Most people will accept US dollars in developing countries. You
can usually exchange hard currency for local currency when you arrive at the airport.
And from Mike Laird, who volunteered in Bolivia:
I would advise people on two things: take US dollars and American Express travellers
cheques. I have been in situations where UK travellers cheques and pounds sterling have
not been accepted. The greenback is welcome everywhere. Clean, crisp notes are some-
times worth more.
But, on a day-to-day basis, what do you do with your cash? Where do you put it? Sharon
Baxter, who volunteered in Tibet, remembers:
In Yushu itself, there was no way to cash travellers cheques or change money. Whilst there,
I just kept my cash under the mattress. My bedroom door had a lock, so I kept it locked
most of the time.~ Vaccination certificate.
~ Travel insurance emergency number
and the serial number of your policy.
~ Summary of any important medical
condition you have.
~ Contact details of your doctor back
home.
~ Copy of prescription for any medication
you take regularly.~ Details of any serious allergies.
~ Your blood group.
~ HIV test documentation (if applicable).
~ Prescription for glasses or contact
lenses.
~ Letter from your doctor explaining why
you’re carrying syringes in a medical kit
to avoid any hassles.03: The Practicalities:Money