Medical corner

Welcome to Swaziland! At the risk of sounding like your mother I would like to tell you about some health related issues relevant to having a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Swaziland has two private clinics that are open 24 hours a day, they are Mbabane Clinic Tel: 404-2423 and Imphilo Clinic Tel 505-7430/9.

There are numerous private dispensing doctors and chemists (some are open on Sundays) and the major hotels have a hotel doctor.

Please note that all of the above operate privately so you need to insure adequate funds to cover the expense. A travel insurance is also imperative for this part of the world.

There are no mandatory vaccinations. Typhoid and Hepatitis A and B are optional, hence seek medical advice. Many stories abound regarding malaria so let me clarify a few points. Swaziland does have malaria but only in the lowveld areas.

Those of you coming in from Johannesburg visiting Pigg’s Peak, Mbabane, Mhlambanyatsi, Ezulwini and Malkerns do NOT need malaria prophylaxis. But if you are planning a trip to Kruger Park, Mozambique, Mkhaya, Hlane and Northern Natal then malaria is a risk and you are advised to follow medical recommendations.

For avoidance of malaria use insect repellents, wear long sleeves and trousers at dusk and use mosquito nets. The anti malarials that you can use are Chloroquine, Proguanil or Lariam Reg. Remember that if you have a fever one week and up to 3 months afterwards it could represent malaria so seek medical advice. To reduce the risk of tick-bite fever, bush walkers should do a post walk tick check...like your primate cousins! Bilharzia (a worm infection) exists in our rivers and dams.

Swimming should be restricted to fast flowing water but general recreational activities such as river rafting are safe...so long as a crocodile doesn’t get you! Our water is mostly of borehole origin and is safe to drink.