Health And Safety
When it comes to traveling, the most important goal is to remain healthy throughout the entire trip. Even a mere motion sickness may ruin the fun of an entire trip. The first and foremost step to stay healthy should be started from packing. That means travelers need to keep the necessary first aid kits in the luggage. First aid kits may include some basic medicines for headaches and nausea. Some parts of Ethiopia are packed with mosquitoes. So, it would be a better idea to carry full sleeve clothes in the bag and take some mosquito repellents. To remain safe from other infectious diseases, travelers may follow these mentioned Ethiopian health and safety tips:
- • Do not drink from unsealed bottles.
- • Wash hands frequently.
- • Do not touch animals.
- • Do not eat half-cooked foods.
- • Cover sneezes and coughs.
- • Apply insect repellent (if necessary).
- • Pack weather-appropriate clothing items.
- • Drink enough water.
Even after maintaining all the precautions, if travelers feel any sort of distress or severe discomfort, then they should immediately seek the help of professionals. Thankfully, in Ethiopia, all towns and cities have pharmacies.
Another important step to be safe and stay healthy is to obey the Ethiopian govt. travel rules and regulations. Unfortunately, foreigners tend to ignore them very often, as a result, they get themselves caught in difficult situations. In order to know the details about the rules, one may need to do a little research on the internet before landing on the desired destination.
Ethiopian Medical Care
Ethiopian medical care has some good sides and bad sides. Let’s start with the good one first. All government-run hospitals provide free medical services. However, the bad news is that most of these hospitals do not have sufficient equipment to offer the patients required care.
In contrast, private hospitals are good in Ethiopia but it is nearly impossible for many Ethiopians to afford the cost. However, if any traveler is affected by any disease, then it would be a better idea to seek medical care from the private health sector of Ethiopia.
Travelers should also be aware that clinics and hospitals with certified doctors are not available in all the cities of Ethiopia, and they may need to travel far from the hotel to get proper treatment. So, it would be a better idea to stay in towns which are not far from large city centers.
The Key to Safety is in Your Hands
Getting mugged or robbed is quite uncommon in the developed countries but these incidents are not rare in African nations. The scenario is the same here in Ethiopia. Robbing, pickpocketing, and similar incidents are pretty uncommon here but the crime percentage here is not zero. So, staying vigilant would be the best option while traveling in Ethiopia.
In the big cities like Addis Ababa, one may never encounter any sight of violence but one should also not wander around the city at night carrying bundles of money in the pockets. Pickpocketing activities are most common at the bus stations. Sometimes pickpockets might be very clever, so tourists should not carry thick moneybags in the loose back pocket of jeans.
Foreigners may also be caught up in different scamming situations, such as a group of students may start talking with them, and eventually, they may ask for money and give proofs of their needs, but foreigners should not fall into this type of traps. These students are not dangerous but may be very persistent. So, tourists have to tackle the situation smoothly.
In a country like Ethiopia, facing a tribal conflict incident is not unheard of. The logical step would be to remain calm because they do not hurt foreigners. Still, foreigners should avoid border areas to avoid violence.