Before coming to Indonesia, new staff should already have a good supply of any prescription medicine needed. Ensure you can continue that supply from a local facility, or that you can find a local substitute acceptable to your original prescribing physician.
Some common health risks include:
- Gastro-intestinal conditions: diarrhea from infected water, ice cubes or food (Extremely common)
- Mosquito-borne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, chikungunya
- Hepatitis
- Typhoid
- Rabies
Additional Health Points
- Malaria is a risk throughout the year in the whole country except in Jakarta Municipality. Staff traveling beyond Jakarta Municipality should arrange suitable Malaria prophylaxis.
- Avian Influenza (AI) or Bird Flue is a serious health issue. The UN team in Indonesia has developed an Avian Influenza Contingency Plan. Staff is encouraged to update themselves and what measures to be taken from their respective organizations.
- HIV is also a serious health issue. HIV is prevalent in major cities of Indonesia. PEP Kits are available at major locations where UN staff members are based. In case of occupational exposure, UN staff members requiring PEP Kits should get in touch with UNDSS.
Health Precautions
- Do not drink water from a tap, only boiled or bottle water, avoid ice cubes and crushed ice. Make sure you drink enough
- Fish, seafood, meats and eggs should be well cooked.
- Avoid eating in the outside ‘warung’.
- Fresh vegetables and fruit should be washed thoroughly or peeled where possible to avoid contaminations and insecticides
- Avoid unnecessary contact with live fowl by staying away from markets where live chickens and ducks are sold.
- Search and destroy breeding grounds for mosquitoes, ensure that living quarters are screened, apply mosquito repellant if outside at night