Frequently Asked Questions: Travelling to Nepal
Health and Insurance
Though Nepal is not any more unsafe than any other developing country,
update your preventive inoculations. Injections against meningitis,
tetanus, hepatitis B, typhoid, perhaps cholera are recommended. Vaccination
against rabies (which is quite rampant in Nepal) can be good but it is too
bothersome and expensive to be worth the trouble. Just keep yourself safe
from stray dogs and monkeys.
As said, prevention is better than cure, it's highly recommended that you bring medicines for common illness like nausea, vomiting,cold and flu when you come to Nepal. Though there are many pharamacy shops in Kathmandu and Pokhara, it's worth carrying some basic medicinal stuffs like insect repellent, sunscreen, lip balm, eye drops, bandages and so on.
Malaria is under control in Nepal. The risk of catching it is small and
only in the southern plains. Mosquito netting and repellent are advised
when there, especially during the summer and monsoon seasons. Also, as a
preventive measure, take chloroquine pills starting two weeks before and
six weeks after your visit to the plains.
AIDS is a growing problem. Official figures of only a couple of dozen
cases of HIV in Nepal is a better indicator of the government's inability
to collect data (or deny them) than the actual cases of the disease. Don't
be misled into believing that unsafe sex is okay. Though prostitution in
Nepal is insignificant compared to other Asian countries, watch out.
Also, doctors in Kathmandu are reporting that health problems due to
severe air pollution are rising astronomically in Kathmandu. Old vehicles
spewing out black smoke is unfortunately a normal scene on the roads of
Kathmandu. Along the main roads traveled mainly by vehicles, the air gets
quite nasty especially during rush hour. Make a conscious effort to
minimize your walking on these streets used mainly by vehicles during rush
hour.
Many, if not most, travelers to Nepal are likely to get stomach problems
at some point during their visit. It is generally caused simply because of
a change in diet and climate, drinking contaminated water and
eating contaminated food. See health guidelines under "Dining and
Drinking" to lessen the chances of acquiring diarrhea. But if you do get
it, the most effective remedy is to fast for a day and consume plenty of
water or some fluid. You can find effective medicines against amoebal
diarrhea in any drug store in Kathmandu. Carry some with you when you are
going to be away on trekking trails. A rehydration package called "Jeevan
Jal" is found everywhere in Nepal; it is quite effective.
Altitude Sickness is the effect of altitude on those who ascent too rapidly to elevations above 3,000 meters. The basic early symptoms of altitude sickness is headache, loss of appetite and sleeplessness. One shouldn't ignore these early symptoms as these symptoms may lead to more serious warnings and cause death sometimes within few hours. Medicine is no substitute for descent. If a doctor is available, he may give medicine and oxygen. However, the patient must go down to lower altitude even if treatment is given.
Almost all good doctors and all well equipped hospitals and clinics are in
Kathmandu. Visiting a doctor in a clinic is probably better than going
directly to a public hospital. Hospitals in Kathmandu can be very crowded
with the whole country coming there for medical treatment. Private
"nursing homes" and clinics are plentiful in Kathmandu. Elsewhere in the
country, there is not much of a choice: you can at best get a service that
may pull you through until you reach Kathmandu.
Oh yes, some sort of travel insurance is highly recommended. Most travel
insurance covers emergency flights, medical expenses, and theft or loss of
possessions. The insurance premium in general is between $50 to $75 for a
two week period, and progressively less for longer periods. It's a price
worth paying. If you plan to go rafting or trekking, make sure your
insurance covers these "dangerous activities." Remember to keep your
receipts to make claims. In order to make claims on lost or stolen items,
you will need a police report issued in Nepal by the Interpol Section of
the Nepal Police.
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