Tanzania - Health
Public and private facilities are located in major cities, with the best hospitals located in Dar es Salaam and Arusha.
Private hospitals in Tanzania have much better conditions than public hospitals. Doctors and staff at private hospitals usually speak English and can treat most medical conditions.
Many serious medical conditions require air evacuation to Kenya or South Africa, which are the closest countries that have the latest medical technology.
Travel health insurance is recommended.
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases:
Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines prior to your trip.
Vaccinations against Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B are recommended for unvaccinated travelers.
Malaria is a risk in Tanzania. Visitors are advised to take prescription medicine to prevent Malaria.
A Yellow Fever vaccination is required for visitors arriving from countries with a risk of YF transmission.
Polio virus has been detected in Tanzania. Make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. A Level 2 advisory was issued in July 2023. Travelers are advised to take enhanced precautions.
The following links provide more information:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Travel Health Notices
- The Ministry of Health – Yellow Fever
Food and Water Concerns:
Cholera transmission is concentrated in Tanzania’s Dar Es Salaam, Katavi, Kigoma, Manyara, Rukwa, and Ruvuma regions.
Avoid unsafe food and water. Washing your hands often can also help prevent cholera.
Vaccination may be considered for children and adults who are traveling to areas of active cholera transmission.
Do not drink untreated tap water. Water at the dock is not purified in most places and therefore should be treated/filtered prior to filling tanks.
Mosquito-borne Diseases:
Cases of Dengue, Chikungunya, and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) have been reported in the country.
Prevention:
Use a repellent containing 20%-30% DEET or 20% Picaridin on exposed skin. Re-apply according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Wear neutral-colored (beige, light grey) long-sleeved clothing.
Pre-soak or spray the outer layer of clothing and gear with permethrin.
Ensure that the hatch and window screens work properly.
Other Diseases:
Rabid dogs are commonly found in Tanzania. There may be limited or no rabies treatment available if you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while visiting Tanzania.
Rift Valley Fever has been reported in Tanzania. It occurs mostly in rural areas where access to sanitation is limited.
A Marburg virus disease outbreak in the Kagera region of northwest Tanzania was first reported on March 2023 by the Ministry of Health of Tanzania. On June 2023, Tanzania declared the outbreak over.
It is not advisable to swim in fresh water, because of the danger of the bilharzia parasite.
AIDS is endemic in East Africa.
Prescription Drugs:
In the major urban areas, pharmacies are easily accessible, however, medication supplies may be limited. Bring all prescriptions with you, along with a doctor’s note or a prescription, in their original, clearly labeled containers.
Emergency Numbers:
See Emergencies.
If you need emergency medical assistance, dial 112 and ask for an ambulance.
A list of hospitals (institutes) can be found on the Ministry of Health webpage.
The AMREF-run Flying Doctor Service offers medical air evacuation services to visitors in addition to outreach and emergency care to local people in outlying areas.
Contact details: +255 745 716581; +255 684 818071
info@flydoc.org
Summit Centre, Sokoline Road, Arusha, Tanzania
Last updated: August 2023
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KILWA – Anchor near the port as this is manned by the navy and there are always people watching or on watch. Hoist your dinghy every night. Outboards (a.k.a. machines) are very nickable. The tour to the unesco world heritage site at Kilwa Island is very worth doing – go to the TAWA office and get a permit and they will arrange a guide.
BOYDU ISLAND – UPDATE 2022
A skipper has reported that the SE anchorage has no sand left due to local floodrain. Apply extreme
caution and rely on visual navigation.