The Medical Defence Union and Medical Protection Society cover British medical students for indemnity in Zimbabwe and will extend their services for the price of a phone call. Health insurance is also recommended and one of the best, which will cover any dangerous sports undertaken, is offered by BMA Services. Personal health Malaria is the major illness that presents as a problem to a visitor to Zimbabwe, as chloroquine resistant strains are prevalent. An alternative, although unlicensed as yet, is doxycyclin, but advice about its use should be sought from a professional. As with many diseases, prevention is better than cure, and the usual precautions of impregnated nets, long sleeves, and insect repellent should be taken.
African sun is phenomenally hot, and therefore a good sunscreen is needed.
Take Imodium for those cases of Harare-hurry that you will undoubtedly get. Clean needles and syringes should be taken in case you require a hospital procedure, and try to avoid blood transfusions. Knowing the blood group of the person with whom you are travelling may therefore be advisable. In hospital HIV is the major risk factor, and long, hard consideration should be given to the matter before deciding to work in such an environment. As yet there are no trials supporting the efficacy of post-exposure prophylaxis, merely anecdotal evidence and extrapolated data from other studies.