Your Best Health Care During Travel!

Must know for Zanzibar.

How available is medical care in Zanzibar for tourists, visitors and residents? How best to prepare for a holiday or long stay in the tropics? Dr. Jenny Bouraima, Fumba Town’s German-born general practitioner, provides answers.

It’s important to consider health and safety concerns before travelling, especially for senior citizens, pregnant women, people with underlying medical conditions, and people who will be travelling for more than six months.

What vaccinations do I need when travelling to Zanzibar and Tanzania?

It is best to consult a tropical medicine specialist in your home country who can review your specific medical and vaccination history. Generally speaking, it is recommended that your vaccination status is up-to-date according to your country’s vaccination calendar, which includes

any potential booster vaccines. On top, a specialist will counsel you about rabies, typhoid, hepatitis A, yellow fever and COVID-19 vaccinations. Then you can make informed decisions.

Is malaria prevention necessary?

Malaria prevention is important and life-saving. Recommendations from inter-national boards have changed this year – it is currently recommended that all short-term travellers to Tanzania and Zanzibar, regardless of the region they are visiting, are taking malaria chemoprophylaxis on top of the recommended precautions such as repellent spray and long sleeves in the evenings. It is important to note that malaria chemoprophylaxis has to be started before entering the endemic country and continued for a certain period afterwards. 

Do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance is important, since it will give you peace of mind in case of an emergency. In October 2024 it became mandatory to have an inbound travel insurance by the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation when visiting here, regard-
less of other insurances a visitor might have in place.
More information can be found on www.zic.co.tz

My first aid kit – what is a must?

A travel first aid kit often includes band aids, dressing material and pain medication. For the tropics also take medication for an upset stomach and against sunburn. Let your family physician who is familiar with your medical history advise you what other medication you should take along, to avoid unnecessary visits to the doctor while on vacation.

Can I buy most medicines in Zanzibar? 

There are many private pharmacies on the island (called duka la dawa), with a wide price and stock range – the smaller the duka la dawa, the smaller the range of available medicines. The cost for medication when bought over-the-counter is usually reasonable. It might not be the brand that you are used to but a generic with the same active ingredient. 

Do most hotels have a doctor?

Many larger 4-5 star hotels have a small dispensary on site or collaborate with a visiting doctor. These doctors are usually well equipped and connected within the medical network in Zanzibar and able to refer a patient who needs further care.

Bug bites?

Various bug bites can happen and are often rather disturbing than anything serious. A cooling gel or antihistamine gel helps in case of itchiness. When the bug bite area becomes inflamed, painful or you have symptoms like fever and cold shivers, see a doctor. 

How to avoid food poisoning, for example from seafood?

Food poisoning can happen simply because your system is not used to the different set of pathogens here. This however should not hinder you from enjoying the culinary variety Zanzibar has to offer! Simple precautions like “peel it, boil it, cook it, or forget it” and a good judgement about apparent lack of hygiene of an establishment, can avert many days spent in the bathroom. In case your stomach gets upset, use the medication from your travel kit: oral rehydration salt, zinc to replenish your fluids and minerals; antinausea medication in case of vomiting and nausea. If you go to the bathroom more than 10 times per day, consult a doctor.

Can I drink water from the tap?

It is generally advised not to drink water from the tap but to only consume bottled water.

Travelling with children – what do I need to know? 

Travelling with children to Zanzibar can be beautiful, the travel kit well-packed with equipment to attend to minor wounds could be your best friend! In case of a runny stomach in children, especially the younger ones, alerting a doctor in the first 24 hours is advised.

Hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma – are there special precautions for the elderly or chronically ill? 

Any chronic illness should be well controlled with your usual medication prescribed by your dotcor. Make sure to carry all your regularly needed medication with you.