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Boy fishing on canoe, Sierra Leone

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Sierra Leone health care and vaccinations

Vaccination identifier Special precautions
Diphtheria

Yes
Hepatitis A

Yes
Malaria

Yes
Rabies

Sometimes
Tetanus

Yes
Typhoid

Yes
Yellow Fever

Yes

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is neccesary from all visitors arriving within from infected regions.

Medical facilities are extremely limited and and are poor. Missions and foreign aid organisations provide some medical facilities. Health insurance is essential. It is advisable to take personal medical supplies.

Food and drink: 

All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: 

Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. There is a high incidence of HIV/AIDS. Vaccinations against meningococcal meningitis, tuberculosis and hepatitis B are sometimes recommended. Other common diseases in Sierra Leone include: Rabies, Lassa fever, water-borne diseases, malaria and other tropical diseases.

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.