North and Central America and Caribbean

Medical facilities are very limited in Haiti and they offer a poor standard of care.  You should bring adequate supplies of essential medicines, especially for specific medical conditions such as diabetes, etc.

Malaria, dengue fever, parasitic infections, other intestinal problems and hepatitis are not uncommon in Haiti. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you are ill whilst in Haiti or immediately after your return you should seek prompt medical advice.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 110,000 adults aged 15 or over in Haiti were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 2.2% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Haiti and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel health.