New travel clinic opens at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital

The new facility, which is the third of it's kind in the Mother City, is situated on the West Coast Road in close proximity to the Northern suburbs of Cape Town at Netcare's Blaauwberg Hospital. It will be open to travellers froom 09h00 to 14h00 on weekdays.

The original, Cape-based Netcare Travel Clinic, is located in the heart of the city at the Picbel Parkade, Strand Streat while the second one, which is a long term partnership arrangement is in Southern suburbs of the Cape at Medicross in Tokai.

Netcare's Travel Clinics provide leisure and business travellers with invaluable healthcare advice and guidance as well as a comprehensive range of vaccines, including Yellow Fever Immunisation. “We exist to ensure that you will be in the right shape at the right time while travelling and that you will return home healthy,” says Jackie Ensor, General Manager of Netcare Travel Clinics. “We are in constant contact with healthcare authorities and suppliers around the globe in order to provide the travelling public with up-to-the-minute information on 85 different health hazards in more than 250 countries.”

“With the holiday season having started for most South Africans, and looming large for the rest of us, the medical risks when planning a holiday are often the last thing you think about before embarking on a vacation,” says Ensor. “However,” she cautions,” travel can pose several health problems for the unprepared traveller.”

“Whether you are travelling to a country with poor medical facilities, or are simply concerned about the dangers of exposure to your personal health, we can assist you in planning protection,” adds Dr Jaco Folmer, Medical Director of Netcare Travel Clinics.

He explains that the healthcare advice given by Netcare Travel Clinics is individually tailored according to each specific traveller. “For example, an elderly couple going to a five star lodge in the Serengeti will have different travel health requirements than a 20 year old going to climb Kilimanjaro, although both are in Tanzania.”

Folmer has a handy five-point plan which highlights the health issues to consider when planning a trip:

The destination:

Certain destinations may have specific medical risks, e.g. malaria, yellow fever, meningitis or hepatitis. Most of these diseases can be avoided by vaccination, prophylactic medication and proper food and water care.

The activities you plan:

Are you white-water rafting, diving or going to be in the scorching sun on the beach for hours every day? Are you back-packing through rural Asia or bicycling through Spain?

Your current health:

If you currently suffer from chronic medical conditions, you must make sure that it will not be aggrevated by your planned trip, that you will be able to get the necessary medical attention if needed and even replacement medicine should yours get lost. Can you walk long distances with your chronic medical condition if needed? Do you require regular meals or have special dietary needs?

Your accommodation:

If you will be staying in a five-star air-conditioned beach resort in Mombasa, you have a different risk profile than when staying in a hut in rural Brazil with the locals, or on a house boat on Lake Kariba.

Duration and type of transport:

If you will be spending long hours on an aeroplane, bus or train, you might be at risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis.

Wherever you go or stay and whatever you plan to do, it is always better to be prepared. For more information regarding health risks at your destination or during your trip, contact your nearest Netcare Travel Clinic. The personnel are trained to identify risk factors in your itinerary and to guide you on how to minimise these risks. Always remember that the most important part of your holiday is to enjoy it, and to return home healthy!

For those concerned with malaria, tailor-made medication to meet your specific needs can be provided. We also have a range of Travel Kits, insect sprays and bed-nets on hand for those in need,” explains Ensor.

• Special opening offer

During December 2007 and January 2008 the Netcare Travel Clinic in Blaauwberg will be offering the public a special 10 percent discount on its Africa as well as Executive Travel Kit. The Africa Kit, which usually retails at R800 will be on offer for R720 while the Executive Kit, which usually costs R400 will be available for R360.