Greetings!
We are excited that you have made the decision to give of your talents and abilities through Medical Mission Teams, and we look forward to working with you. We hope that this document will provide answers to most of the questions you may have regarding our upcoming travel. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions not answered by the following information. We look forward to the upcoming trip, and serving God’s people together. Blessings,
Joel and Scarlet Holcombe
850-894-0281 (home/office)
404-323-1323 (cell)
scarlet@medicalmissionteams.org
MEDICAL MISSION TEAMS ORIENTATION INFORMATION
Immunizations
If you have not already done so please make an appointment with a travel clinic for your vaccinations and malaria medications. Guidelines for travel immunizations can be found on the United States CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/travel) Information regarding travel warnings and/or precautions can be found on the State Department website (http://www.state.gov/misc/list/index.htm).
Health Precautions
Permethrin/DEET
Clothes will needed to be treated with permethrin before leaving. Go to a Do-It-Yourself Pest Control to
get Permethrin. Mix 1 & 2/3 oz
concentrated Permethrin in 1 gallon of water. Soak clothes in mixture. Wring dry – may use the spin
cycle on your washing machine. Hang clothes to dry. You may go to REI and get the permethrin kit and
follow instructions on the package.
Be sure to bring mosquito repellant with DEET. You do not need to bring a sleeping bag, bed roll, sheets, or mosquito net, as we will be staying at places which have these.
Anti-Malarials
Don’t forget to fill your malaria medication and pack it along with your personal medications in a carryon bag. Some anti-malarials begin with the first dose one week before the trip and continues for a few weeks after the return, while others start 1-2 days before leaving. Be sure to check your prescribed drugs and follow your specific schedule.
Water/Food
To avoid sickness, always avoid drinking local water or using local ice. Also, use bottled water to brush teeth, DO NOT RINSE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH UNDER THE FAUCET! This is a common mistake of habit with unpleasant consequences. We will purchase bottled water in bulk while we are abroad, and as an extra precaution, we will also treat the bottled water with chlorine drops. To prevent dehydration, drink plenty of fluids. Avoid food sold on the street. Salads and raw vegetables, uncooked foods, fruits without peels, and bottled sauces at restaurants (which may have been watered down) should also be avoided. As a general rule of thumb: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it!
Pre-existing conditions
If you have any medical conditions (asthma, etc.), please notify a team leader prior to departure.Travel Insurance We will purchase an insurance plan for the team. The coverage includes:
- $50,000 Medical Benefit (no deductible)
- $250,000 Emergency Medical Transportation
- $25,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment $50,000 Air Flight Accidental Death
- $1,000 Travel Delay ($150 per day)
- $1,500 Baggage Loss $250 Baggage Delay
- $1000 Trip Interruption
This plan does not include trip cancellation benefits. It also does not cover pre-existing conditions. It is up to each individual if they want to buy additional insurance offered by the travel company.
What to Pack
- Please bring 2 x 50lb. bags and 2 TSA locks for your checked luggage.
- Each team member will bring 2 x 50lb. bags – one for personal items and one for team supplies overseas. If you do not own a second 50lb. bag, Salvation Army or Goodwill are great resources.
- Each bag cannot exceed 80 inches total (length plus width plus height).
- You may also bring 1 carry-on bag that cannot exceed 45 inches (length plus width plus height).
- One personal item (purse/briefcase/camera bag) is also allowed. BE SURE TO PACK ANY PERSONAL DAILY MEDICATIONS, AS WELL AS ANTI-MALARIALS, IN YOUR CARRY-ON LUGGAGE.
We will be having a “packing party” at the hotel in Atlanta the night before we depart. At this time we will divide the donated medications and supplies needed for our trip among all of the luggage. Feel free to bring anything that you have donated. We will have scales to ensure that our bags do not exceed the 50lb. weight limit. If there is not enough room for all of the supplies, we can leave them at the hotel and they will be sent with the next team.
The following is a list of suggested items to pack (Required items in ALL CAPS):
Prophylactic Medications
- ANTI-MALARIAL MEDICATIONS
- INSECT REPELLANT (WITH DEET)
- DAILY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
- Antibiotics for traveler’s diarrhea (Cipro)
- Anti-diarrheal (Imodium AD, Pepto-Bismol)
- Antihistamine (Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec)
- Anti-nausea medications (Levsin, Phenergan)
- Band aids, Neosporin
- Tylenol, Advil
- Tylenol PM, Ambien
- Tums, Gas X
- VitaminsToiletries:
- DEODORANT
- HAND SANITIZER
- SUNSCREEN
- TOOTHBRUSH, TOOTHPASTE
- QUART SIZE ZIP LOCK BAG – FOR 3OZ. LIQUIDS IN CARRY ON BAG
- Baby wipes
- Carmex, Chapstick
- Feminine hygiene items (cycles tend to change due to stress of travel)
- Hair brush, comb
- Lotion
- Nail clippers, nail file
- Razor
- Shampoo, Conditioner
- Soap
- Toilet paper – pocket size and regular size rolls
- Towel, washcloth (Oil of Olay cloths work great)
Clothing
- DRESS OR SKIRT – BELOW KNEE LENGTH – FOR CHURCH (WOMEN)
- DRESS SHIRT AND PANTS – FOR CHURCH (MEN)
- Scrubs (appropriate attire for clinics)
- Pants, jeans
- Shirts – Columbia sportswear shirts, t-shirts
- Shoes – comfortable for clinic, shoes for church, shower shoes
- Shorts (only while in guest house)
- Sleepwear
- Socks
- Sweater or light jacket
- Underwear, bras
Personal items
- SUNGLASSES
- HAT
- CHLORINE DROPS (SWEET WATER) OR IODINE TABLETS FOR TREATING WATER
- IMMUNIZATION RECORDS – YELLOW CARD
- PASSPORT
- STETHOSCOPE, BP CUFF (MD, NURSE, PA, NP)
- WATER BOTTLE – NALGENE TYPE IS BEST (CAN BE FOUND AT TARGET)
- CASH
- Alarm clock
- Backpack or fannypack
- Bible
- Camera, 4 or 8 gb flash card
- Batteries
- Converter
- Crystal light or Gatorade individual packets
- Flashlight, headlamp
- Journal
- Driver’s License
- Pen – ink, Sharpie
- Snacks – protein bars, trail mix
- Pocket Medical References (Sanford Gude, etc.)
- Umbrella
- Watch
- Debit card (call your bank before you leave. Conversion fees apply)
Cash/Credit Cards We recommend bringing about $200 per person for souvenirs. Common purchases include gems, wood carvings, straw purses/hats, stationary, etc. Those staying for the safari/lemurs will need to bring extra cash for those trips. When exchanging currency, the best exchange rate is given for new, crisp $100 bills, so these are best to bring. It is possible to use an ATM card to get cash in Kenya, but not in Madagascar. Call your bank/credit card company ahead of time to ensure they know that you will be using your card overseas. Exchange fee charges are 3% for Visa and 2% for American Express.
Safety
Cars
In developing countries, injuries often occur around vehicles. Use care when riding or walking, and do not wander away from the group. Also, team members will not be allowed to ride any mopeds/motorcycles during our time abroad.
General Safety
Keep your travel documents safe at all times, and leave copies of your passport, visa, and other papers in your luggage. Be on your guard against pickpockets. Be discreet when handling money, and if you carry a purse, ensure that it is fully closable. Do not bring expensive or irreplaceable items with you on this trip.
Be sure to take care of your own health at all times. Drink plenty of water, get plenty of rest, and notify a team leader if you are having problems of any kind.Communication with Home An email tree list will be used to send daily messages to individuals back in the states concerning our team’s status. A Blackberry will also be available which can receive and send e-mails, as well as receive incoming calls from the US at $0.25 per minute (emergency phone calls only). We will also have 2 team cell phones which we can call the US with for $0.07 per minute.
Travel/Accommodations/Interpreters
We have contacts on the ground in the country we will be travelling to who we have worked with multiple times in the past. Through them, we have set up accommodations in guest houses in each respective country. As part of our accommodations, individuals will prepare meals for us while we are at the guest house.
For travelling to and from the airport, clinics, and other places, we will use vans which will be driven by individuals we have worked with in the past.
In working with the language barrier abroad, we will be hiring the translators necessary for us to provide our best levels of care in clinic, and also to ensure safe and efficient travel. The translators will be residents of the country we are traveling to.
Orientation/Atlanta Stay
We will be meeting at an Airport Hotel to be determined at 5PM the night before our departure where we have team orientation and packing party stays. An orientation schedule will be sent out at a later date.
Airfare and Ground Fees
Airfare
Airfare runs $1100-1300 from Atlanta to Kenya, $2500-2600 to Madagascar. The sooner we book, the cheaper it is. We meet on a Friday as a team and fly out on Saturday. Land in country on Sunday. Fly to destination on Monday. Teamwork Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday - church, shopping, travel. Monday-Wednesday optional sightseeing trip: safari in Kenya, lemurs park in Madagascar.
Ground Fees
Around $1850 for ground fees - this includes lodging, food, in country transportation. It also pays for a meal we serve the kids on Saturday night. Pays for clinic expenses: medicine we buy in the US as well as in country, local medical staff, translators.
Safari Trip
The optional safari at the end is $650-$750 depending on how many people stay. You will travel by Land Cruiser and stay in a very nice hotel - think glamping.
Service Projects
We can do several things
- Teaching the kids
- adult ladies Bible study
- raise money
- build a mud house (cost is $2500 each)
- eye glass clinic
The one thing we will do is serve all the boarding students (Kenya) dinner on Saturday. Everyone is treated to chicken and a soda.