Make a care plan
Before a visit, discuss vaccinations, regular medicines and the planned itinerary with a qualified health professional. Bring the generic names of essential medicines, relevant prescriptions and a concise record of allergies or medical conditions. Check whether a medicine is permitted before bringing it across a border.
Find out where appropriate care is available near each place you will stay. Consider accessibility, travel time and how payment is handled. Save contact details offline and share an agreed plan with a trusted travelling companion or group organiser. Do not wait until an emergency to discover what your insurance covers.
Mosquito-borne illness
CDC’s country guidance identifies malaria risk in The Gambia and recommends that travellers discuss preventive prescription medicine with their clinician. The appropriate choice depends on individual circumstances; this guide does not prescribe a drug or dose.
WHO recommends reducing mosquito exposure through measures including suitable repellents, protective clothing, window screens and mosquito nets. Combine practical bite prevention with professional advice. A fever during or after travel needs prompt medical assessment; tell the clinician where you have been.
Food, water and everyday preparation
Use current health guidance rather than recipes for prevention copied from an old travel book. Plan access to safe drinking water, handwashing and food that has been handled safely. A parent or group leader should consider how children and people with particular health needs will manage the day’s activities.
For excursions, discuss heat, exertion, shade, rest and water with the organiser. Know how the group will communicate if separated. Ask activity providers about their emergency arrangements rather than assuming a hotel or tour booking includes medical support.
Help when it is needed
Ask your accommodation, local health facility and relevant local emergency service for working contact details when you arrive, and verify them in person where possible. UK government health guidance does not identify a single national equivalent to its own 999 emergency system. For that reason, this guide does not repeat the old book’s short emergency numbers.
For an urgent situation, seek assistance from a nearby appropriate service and tell your insurer promptly if you are referred for treatment. A public information board should show locally verified contacts, a review date and the location of the nearest suitable facility. Delete a number when it can no longer be verified instead of leaving a reassuring but unreliable instruction.
Sources & further reading
- CDC: The Gambia travel health
- WHO: malaria prevention
- UK government: healthcare and emergency information
Source review date: 2026-10-29.