What medication to pack while travelling in Africa

Before you start any journey, you always have to pack all the necessary stuff – clothes, toiletries, gadgets and so much more, don’t forget to pack in a little medication, it may sound boring, but it’s an important precaution! Always pack in these medications to help ensure healthy travels on our African continent.

Antimalarials

Malaria claims over 650 000 lives throughout the world each year and in Sub-Saharan Africa a child dies every minute from this disease! In South Africa be cautious of these areas with a high Malaria count; Limpopo, Mpumalanga and north-eastern KwaZulu Natal. So you might want to consider packing these antimalarials when travelling this continent:
- Vibramycin-D (Doxycycline)
- Lariam (mefloquine) 
- Aralen ( chloroquine)

Motion Sickness Tablets

There are many kinds of motion sickness, the most common ones are car sickness, sea sickness and air sickness. Distances in Africa are long and you might have to drive from point A to point B for many hours on a rough, bumpy road and getting sick is the last thing you need. These motion sickness remedies like codeine (Promethazine), Marezine (Cyclizine) and Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate) are available over the counter.

Antiseptics

Travelling in Africa without any antiseptic can be a major health risk, with overcrowded settlements, poor hygiene, bacteria all around and lack of healthcare facilities, the last thing you want to do is leave a cut or wound uncleaned. These antiseptics are a must when travelling:
- Betadine
- Dettol
- Savlon

Oral Rehydration Salts

Lack of clean water, poor sanitation and hygiene have led to an increase of cholera and diarrhea in Africa! It is highly advisable to bring along some oral rehydration salts, they help replace lost electrolytes, sodium, glucose and potassium that people lose when they suffer from cholera or diarrhea (they also help with hangovers after too much local beer).

Laxatives

You might want to taste all the new, different foods in Africa, but your body might not be used to certain foods and it could cause constipation or irritation in your belly. Laxatives are not glamorous, but it’s better to have them and not need them, right? Dulcolax is a common laxative that can be purchased over the counter.

Antifungal Treatment

Fungal infections such as ringworms and meningitis are quite common in West and Northern Africa, to avoid these fungal infections when you're travelling on this continent always carry drugs such as:
- Cruex cream
- Micanazole 
- Amphotericin B 
- Voriconazole

Add these to your travel kit:
- Plasters
- Water purification tablets
- Insect repellents

It is always so much better to have some remedies nearby when you’re travelling just in case you get sick, travelling is all about enjoyment and bringing along some simple medication can bring you complete peace of mind.

Have your travels led you to the Mother City? Give the guys at Airport Shuttle a call they can get you safe and sound to any destination, like the affordable, luxurious 808 Cartwright self-catering accommodation.

Written By: Christine Romans