Practice Nurse Sandra
Travelling to remote and distant areas of the planet involves a degree of risk. Good preparation can reduce this considerably. One important area that needs careful consideration is that of medical health. To be able to cycle long distances requires the body to be in good order and free from disease.
I am lucky to have the expertise of Practice Nurse Sandra to advise and guide me on this subject. I will document the steps taken in my preparations to provide a template for others who may wish to undertake a similar adventure. This is not meant to be a definitive guide as I am not medically trained, but a list of practical steps I have taken before and during my trip.
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Immunisations:
13 weeks prior to departure - Received vaccinations against Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria and Hepatitis B. Ordered Rabies vaccinations for future injections. Booked dental check-up for 6 weeks time. Made appointment for Yellow Fever jab at a later date.
Before departure I will also be vaccinated against Typhoid, Cholera, Meningitis, Rabies (3 separate injections) and Yellow Fever.
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Malaria:
Is the worlds largest killer and a major cause for concern if travelling to an active area. It is not possible to be fully protected against this disease, but a great deal can be done to reduce the risk of infection. These fall into 4 main areas.
Awareness of Risk: If you are not aware of the danger it is unlikely you will do anything to prevent infection. Therefore obtain information about the area you are to visit and seek medical advice before you leave.
Bites: Prevent being bitten by mosquitoes as far as possible. Take simple steps, such as covering up exposed flesh, especially in the evening. Use plenty of insect repellent to keep the mosquitoes away. Sleep under a mosquito net that is ideally impregnated with repellent or use mosquito coils in your room.
Use Antimalarial Drugs: There are several drugs on the market to give you protection against infection. None offer a 100% guarantee and it is important to read the information available and take advice from a health-care professional. I have chosen to take ‘Doxycyline’ for this trip as in addition to giving a greater than 90% protection against malaria it also has some antibiotic properties.
Prompt action if infected: If you suffer any flu-like symptoms then seek medical advice promptly from a doctor.
- Clean Drinking Water:
Depending on your area of travel, access to clean drinking water will vary greatly. Even in the most remote locations it is sometimes possible to buy bottled water. However, there is no guarantee that this is from a reliable source. There are incidences where suspect water is bottled for tourists who visit an area. You need to be vigilant and apply a great deal of common sense to each situation.
When I travelled from Harwich to Timbuktu I nearly always drank the same water as the locals drank. However, I have a very strong constitution and travelling slowly gives the body time to adapt to changes in water conditions. There has been a great deal of progress made in Africa recently where non-government organisations (NGOs) have provided many villages with a well that gives access to clean drinking water. I was so impressed by the work ‘Oxfam’ had done in areas of Western Africa that I donate money to them each month. I still do this eight years after my return from Africa.
To provide myself with a method of purifying water that may be unfit for drinking I carry a portable water filter. My preferred model is a Katadyn Pocket Filter. It has proven to be reliable, robust and long-lasting. I also carry water purification tablets and drops as a back-up.
Clinic and Undertakers Working in Harmony
Click here for travel advice sheet 1
Click here for travel advice sheet 2