Being informed is the best defense against disease and safety risks. We recommend visiting some of the following websites for health and safety information:
Drink only bottled or boiled water or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Tap water should not be considered safe at the beaches nor fountain drinks and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by both filtering through an "absolute 1 micron or less" filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. "Absolute 1 micron filters" are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
Buy bottled water from respectable outlets to guard against upset stomach. Some of the well-known brands are AquaFina and Himalaya. Ensure the seal of the bottle is intact to avoid purchasing tap water in a resealed bottle.
Take care with spicy dishes, especially at the beginning. Avoid eating food from roadside stalls. Do not eat unpeeled fruits and avoid fresh salads, especially in small hotels. If volunteers must eat food at a questionable location, make sure the food is served hot.
The most common health complaint in any developing nation is an ailing digestive system. In many cases, the illness may be attributed merely to a change in diet, but occasional cases of food poisoning can occur, whereby the symptoms occur very quickly, severely and explosively. These are seldom serious or extended illnesses, but medical treatment should be sought if it occurs.
Always use insect repellent in a mosquito-prone area. However, keep in mind not every place is mosquito-infested and low temperatures in winters (to the high season in Nepal) kill most bugs in the northern plains and hills.
If traveling in scorching heat, remember to drink enough water, use hats, sunglasses & SPF lotions. Beware of the health effects that the mid day sun may cause, most importantly SUN BURN or DEHYDRATION.
Pharmacies or chemists are available in every little town and village and medications are dispensed. However, volunteers with prescription drugs should bring enough for the duration their Nepal trip. They must be carried in their original prescription bottle and the prescription must be in the name of the volunteer.
The cost of visiting a doctor is low (less than a dollar) when compared to western countries.
It is advisable to carry a small health kit, which should include remedy for upset stomach, some antiseptic cream, hydration powder, mosquito repellant, sun block, band-aids, etc.
The mission of IFRE Volunteers is to offer the most affordable as well as the highest quality volunteer and humanitarian abroad experiences - enabling us to make a contribution for all of humanity in its quest to make the world a better place. Through our volunteer and humanitarian trips abroad, we aim to spread love and compassion worldwide while improving the lives of destitute children and less-fortunate communities. We at IFRE also seek sustainable solutions in the fields of education, healthcare, conservation efforts and development issues through international volunteering.
