Do you plan to travel or volunteer after the program?
Travelling after the program means that you will no longer have the guidance of McGill staff including the medical doctor. You will need to be equipped to travel and deal with situations on your own in Africa. Talk to the doctors during the MEAFSS program about how to prepare for solo travel, especially if backpacking through developing areas. Some of the things we recommend that you bring are:
- Malaria self-medication (e.g. Doxycycline, Larium or Malarone);
- Syringes (in case you need injections, you will have a clean needle);
- Digital thermometer;
- Money belt;
- Contacts for good hospitals wherever you plan to travel;
Tip: Strongly recommended: always choose the most expensive hospital. It will still be relatively cheap compared to home. - Pocket knife;
- Duct tape;
- Small solar calculator;
- Combination lock;
- Canadian paraphernalia for presents (e.g. flags, pencils, maple surup);
- Warmer clothes if trekking/hiking in the mountains (although hikes such as Kilimanjaro will have rental clothes available for low prices);
- Guide book / phrasebook;
- Light backpack as opposed to a duffle bag;
- Disposable towlettes;
- Anti-amoeba/giardia medication. Buy from a pharmacy if you will be traveling in rural areas for more than a few days. Ask for a broad-spectrum 1- or 2-day dose.(e.g. Cipro).
- Condoms/birth control
You may also need to look into extending your insurance and your visa. It is important to note that you may not be allowed to work or volunteer in the countries you will be visiting and you may need to get a working visa if you plan to do so. Make sure to look at each country's official visa application webpage to find more information about your status before you start travelling by yourself.
