Major FAQ-Sri Lanka
Health and safety
Volunteer should be aware of all health and safety information before traveling to Sri Lanka . We suggest you visit some of the websites listed below.
WHO website for international travelers ( http://www.who.int/csr/ihr/en/ )
WHO Sri Lanka (http://www.who.int/countries/en/)
General Health Tips for volunteer in Sri Lanka
- Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, 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 stomach upsets. Make sure that the seal of the bottle is intact to avoid being sold tap water in a resealed bottle.
- Watch out for spicy dishes, especially at the outset of your tour. Avoid eating food from road side stalls. Don't eat unpeeled fruits and avoid fresh salads, especially in small hotels. If you are forced to eat food at some place that you have doubts about, make sure the food is served hot.
- Always use an insect repellent if you find yourself in a mosquito-prone area. But remember, not every place is mosquito-infested and low temperatures in winters (when most tourists come to Sri Lanka ) kill most bugs in the northern plains and hills.
- If traveling in scorching heat, r em em ber to drink enough water, use hats, sunglasses & UV lotions. Beware of the health effects that the mid day sun may cause, most importantly SUN BURN or DEHYDRATION.
- Pharmacies or ch em ists are available in every little town and village and you can buy medication. In case you need to see a doctor for a specific condition, ask for help from your hotel (most have doctors on call) or your tour operator. The cost of visiting a doctor is fairly low (less than a dollar) compared to western countries.
- In Sri Lanka , most modern medicines are available over the counters in drugstores, but it is wise with any prescription drugs you require, bring enough for the duration of the trip. It is advisable that you carry a small health kit which should include r em edy for upset stomachs, some antiseptic cream, mosquito repellant, sun block, band aids, etc.
Vaccination
We use the Center for Disease Control traveler's health recommendations ( www.cdc.gov.) Your travel doctor will know about current epid em ics and should be consulted.
Entering Sri Lanka , vaccination against the Yellow Fever is legally required. The requirement is only enforced in involvement with people coming from the infected areas like Central Africa and parts of South America .
Other immunizations before traveling in Sri Lanka are also recommended for any longer trip in the Island , including Diphtheria & Tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, Japanese B Encephalitis, Polio, Rabies, Tuberculosis, and Typhoid . Malaria medication should be brought with you incase of travel to the high-risk area of the disease. Basic equipments for first-aid such as bandage, band-aids, and other wound dressing should be prepared as well.
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