HEALTH AND SANITATION

There are a few guidelines you need to follow to stay healthy during your trip:

• Always drink bottled water or water from containers that have been purified and filtered. (We will purchase appropriate water upon arriving in the country.)
• Do not eat from local street vendors or unfamiliar restaurants. Your team leader will take you to somewhere that is acceptable.
• Be careful with fruits and vegetables that are already prepared. As a rule, if you can wash and peel it, it is safe.
• Be careful with germs that you will come in contact with through everyday physical contact, such as holding hands or picking up children. Do not chew on your nails because you will be taking the germs directly into your mouth. It is a good practice to not touch your face at all unless you can discreetly sanitize your hands.
• If anyone ever spits, sneezes or coughs on your body, particularly your face immediately clean the area with clean water and preferably soap or sanitizer.
• Do not approach or attempt to help anyone who is bleeding or vomiting – contact the nearest health professional to help with their situation.
• Always clean your hands before eating and preferably sanitize regularly for the health of your team.
• Sodas are popular drinks for Ugandans and Westerners. It is safe if you use a straw to drink from the bottle. Their bottles are re-used.
• GET YOUR VACCINATIONS!!!! To see which vaccinations you need to for your visit to Uganda, visit http://www.cdc.gov/travel/eafrica.htm#vaccines... or check the sidebar on this site.
• Always wear insect repellant with at least 25% Deet and sunscreen with an SPF factor of 30 or higher. We are in a higher malaria-concentrated area near a lake that breeds mosquitoes as wells as on the equator. Mosquitoes are always worse at dusk, in the evening, or early morning.

Preventative action is always the best defense, but remember do not be overly rude when cleaning your hands after holding the hand of child. Do not be blatantly disgusted by the touch of other people because this can be very offensive or embarrassing for the nationals