AVIF recommends that volunteers apply for membership to AMREF’s Flying Doctor Service which will ensure immediate emergency evacuation to the nearest registered major hospital in the event of an accident. The average “western” travel / medical insurance will provide ample cover beyond this.
DO NOT under-estimate malaria! Without prophylactics you WILL catch it and it is NOT pleasant. Doxycycline is a cheap anti-biotic and anti-malarial but has side effects of causing nausea on an empty stomach and increased skin-sensitivity to sunlight. Malarone (atovaquone) is also very effective AND EXPENSIVE. If you opt for Malarone then purchase your 1st weeks supply but buy the rest in Kenya it is much cheaper there.
Should things go wrong our hosts are able to contact us immediately. We hold all emergency information and will remind you to pass on all details of travel / medical insurance / Flying Doctor membership, at Orientation.
Worldwide Risk Management specialises in providing health insurance to volunteer organizations and individuals travelling overseas short-term or long-term. Patriot Travel Medical is recommended as the most appropriate insurance plan and we can offer you a discount too, click on the banner for a quote or contact Jenny Varughese at jvarughese@worldwiderisk.com.
While you’re in Nairobi please be careful and observe guidance from your orientation and liaison. It is an offence to smoke on public streets and here’s a video showing the realities of Nairobi .. enjoy / cringe!
AVIF will give you all the information you need but also emphasise the importance of resilience, self-reliance, and innovation; we separate fact from emotion & balance necessary levels of protection whilst preserving reasonable levels of risk. Unwilling to spend vast amounts on insurance policies we would like to empower individuals to take more personal responsibility for risk since you are best placed to manage it.