EXPAT HEALTH

Water: Running water supply is not reliable (in terms of quality for the consumption and regularity of the service) in many developing countries. Projects based in rural areas have usually in place systems to collect and purify the water. In town and cities with water supply, to drink from the tap is not recommended. The best option is to buy a filter (available in hardware stores) and fill it everyday. Boil the water for at least one minute before filtering make the process even safer. Due to the frequent water cuts, to have a big bucket full of water to use for personal hygiene is very practical

Malaria: Many of the developing countries where the NGOs work are endemic for this disease. Malaria prophylaxis in these areas is not an option but a mandatory measure to protect our health against a disease that kills 3 million people every year. Aroun medicines used in prophylaxis (especially Mefloquine) there are a lot of myths that have little to do with reality. My experience with many expats is completely positive and minor temporary side effects (especially insomnia in first month) does not justify to change to a more expensive alternatives or –of course- to stop taking prophylaxis

Health Insurance: Your contract with the NGO will include a health insurance for the time you will be abroad. Read carefully the terms of your policy and also go to the website of the insurance company. Usually it includes a list of the most reliable hospitals in your area in case you have any health problem. For some reason, NGOs are lazy to send you the information about policy numbers and ID cards. Try to get this info ASAP (even before leaving your country), study in advance the options you have in case of a health problem and make accessible the emergency numbers (provided by the insurance company) where you can call if there is a problem