What have I learned?

There are many health risks and after looking through various websites and my own personal health records I have listed what needs to be done.

Disease Prevention/ Health Care

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/africa/ghana.shtml

http://www.cdc.gov/

·         Vaccines

o   Typhoid-10 Days

o   Yellow Fever-10 Days

o   Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria , Pertussis)-3 months definitely should get

Measles- definately should get

o   Meningococcal meningitis-3 weeks should more than likely get

o   Polio- should more than likely get booster

o   Rabies-1 month should get

o   Cholera-2 weeks should get

o   Tuberculosis-3 months *10-26-98*

o   Hepatitis B-2 months*09-17-98~03-02-99*

o   Hepatitis A-2 weeks *02-04-09*

·         Malaria pills-starts 2 days before, everyday during, 2 days after; drink Nim tea made from a very common tree; artesunate = Chinese herbal

·         DO NOT eat food off the streets

·         ONLY eat warm foods

·         Drink BOTTLED water (Voltic)

·         DO NOT swim in FRESH water for fear of contracting Bilharzia (if you do swim in fresh water that is not near a village)

·         When cleaning food preferably clean in SALT water

·         NO SEX (no duh)

·         Wash hands as frequently as possible or if there is no soap use an alcohol based cleanser

bolded text is what is required for the trip
itlaisized text is what I would like to happen
*text within the asterix are dates when I last recieved the vaccines*
~the days/weeks/months are how long before the trip must I get the vaccine~

Part of the trip we will be installing Malaria nets and so I researched the disease

v  MALARIA

Ø  http://www.netsforlifeafrica.org/

Ø  http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/malaria/overview.html

Ø  Cause: get bitten by an infected Anopheles mosquito that transmits a parasite; first travels to the liver; enters blood stream and infect red blood cells- multiply inside them then the cells rupture 48-72 hrs after

Ø  Symptoms: begin as early as 8 days after infection and as late as 1 year later

§  Chills

§  Fever

§  Sweating

§  Headache

§  Nausea

§  Vomiting

§  Muscle Pain

§  Anemia

§  Bloody stools

§  Jaundice

§  Convulsion

§  Coma

Ø  Prevention: anti-malaria drugs; long pants/shirts; insect repellent

Ø  If infected go to hospital immediately

Ø  Mosquitoes often appear at dusk/dawn

Ø  Nearly one million people die from malaria each year, mostly children younger than five years old.

Ø  There are an estimated 250 million cases of malaria each year.

Ø  Although the vast majority of malaria cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa, the disease is a public-health problem in more than 109 countries in the world, 45 of which are in Africa.

Ø  Approximately 3.3 billion people live in areas where malaria is a constant threat.

Ø  90% of all malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ø  Malaria costs an estimated $12 billion in lost productivity in Africa.

Ø  When insecticide-treated nets are used properly by three-quarters of the people in a community, malaria transmission is cut by 50%, child deaths are cut by 20%, and the mosquito population drops by as much as 90%.

Ø  It is estimated that less than 5% of children in sub-Saharan Africa currently sleep under any type of insecticide-treated net.

There is this website that lists the common diseases in Ghana and what can be done to prevent them.
http://www.info-ghana.com/common_diseases.htm

I have also made a packing list of what I'll need for the trip.

Packing List

v  SUIT CASE

Ø  CLOTHING

§  1 clothing set for trip home (bottom, top, under garments, shoes)

§  1 semi-formal clothing set for professional meetings and church

§  11 bottoms

·         8 pants

·         3 shorts

§  11 tops

·         T-shirt style

·         NOT BLACK

§  7 bras

·         5 sports

·         2 regular

§  11 pairs of underwear

§  11 pairs of socks

·         Medium length

§  Pajamas & robe

§  Hat/ bandana

§  Shoes

·         Tennis shoes (possibly more than 1)

·         Flip flops (for the shower)

Ø  Other

§  Toothbrush

§  Toothpaste

§  Hairbrush

§  Scrunchies

§  Shampoo

§  Conditioner

§  Body wash

§  Loofa

§  Q-tips

§  Towel

§  Pillow

§  Face wash

§  Deodorant

§  Body spray

§  Baby powder

§  Pads

§  Lotion

§  Sun screen

§  Hand sanitizer

§  Bug spray

§  Tylenol

§  Toilet paper

§  Umbrella

§  Batteries

§  Plastic bags

§  Nail clippers        ?

Ø  Snacks

§  Nutella
Raisins

§  Crackers

§  Granola bar

§  Trail mix

§  Almonds

§  Skittles

§  Gum

§  Pretzels

v  CARRY ON

Ø  Clothes

§  1 pair of pants

§  1 t-shirt

§  1 pair of underwear

§  1 pair of socks

Ø  Other

§  Retainer

§  Phone charger

§  Phone

§  Mini first aid

§  Passport

§  Resident card

§  Outlet converter

§  Journal

§  Writing utensils

§  Camera

§  Backpack

§  Sweater

§  Chapstick

§  Pads

§  School ID

§  Money

Some common recipes for Ghanaian food are:

Jollof Rice

Ingredients

• 1¼ cups white rice
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 can (6-ounce) tomato paste
• 3 cups chicken broth

Procedure

1. In a saucepan sauté rice and onion in oil.
2. Cover and cook until onion is translucent and soft.
3. Cut chicken into ½-inch cubes and add to sauté mixture.
4. Mix in tomato paste and then broth.
5. Bring mixture to a boil.
6. Cover pan and reduce heat to low.
7. Cook until rice is tender, liquid is absorbed, and chicken is cooked, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Makes 8 servings.

Read more: Food in Ghana - Ghanaian Food, Ghanaian Cuisine - popular, dishes, diet, history, meals, staple, rice, main, people, favorite, make, customs, fruits, country, vegetables, drink, typical, stew, different, fried http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Ghana.html#ixzz1ADQbUXTE

Kelewele (Fried Plantains)

Ingredients

• 6 large ripe plantains
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground red pepper
• 2 Tablespoons water
• 3 cups oil or shortening

Procedure

1. Peel the plantain and cut crosswise into ½-inch slices, removing any woody parts from the center.
2. Mix ginger, salt, and red pepper with water in a mixing bowl.
3. Drop plantain slices into mixture and turn them to coat.
4. Heat oil or shortening in a large skillet and fry the mixture-coated slices until golden brown.

Serves 6.

Read more: Food in Ghana - Ghanaian Food, Ghanaian Cuisine - popular, dishes, diet, history, meals, staple, rice, main, people, favorite, make, customs, fruits, country, vegetables, drink, typical, stew, different, fried http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Ghana.html#ixzz1ADQkwUY5