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Tropical Diseases in Ghana for Travelers

This is another post from Suite 101 focusing on tropical diseases for travelers in Ghana. You can see an overview here with a couple of extremely helpful links if you're preparing your visit. It covers the major disease challenges and tips on how to integrate this into your preparations for travel to Ghana.

"Before traveling to Ghana it is necessary to visit a tropical disease clinic to receive the compulsory Yellow Fever injection for travel in sub-Saharan Africa, a pre-requisite for obtaining a visa to Ghana.

The CDC recommends that, "to have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it."

Tropical travel clinics are in the best position to provide the final word on which vaccinations to get, but travelers to Ghana should, at minimum, be vaccinated against polio, tetanus, typhoid, and Hepatitis A and B, all rife in Ghana."

Ethical and Fair Trade Shops UK and USA

Mother's Day is coming up next week in the USA. And it's World Fair Trade Day next weekend too. We've recently been accepted to promote fair trade products and, to disclose fully, we will be rewarded for this as an affiliate. I love fair trade, I've worked in the area and I've written a lot about it so it makes sense to me. I love to promote products that I know will help alleviate poverty at the grass-roots.

If you live in the USA, you may wish to mosey on down to your local Fair Trade Shop and buy Mum a box of Fair Trade organic chocolate. Online, of course.

As someone who lives in the world's second largest cocoa producing country where stories about unfair practices in the industry abound, I can tell you that putting pressure on producers by demanding fair trade practices makes a difference. It's a steady and sure way to make change, to make poverty history, and to ensure a more equitable existence for many. And your Mum will love you for it. Click the picture and see for yourself.

If you live in the UK, you can high tail it to the online Ethical Super Store (oh my God this is amazing) which sells everything a modern household needs, and lovely gifts to boot. Better still, they sell Traidcraft products and as someone who once worked for Traidcraft I know they do what it says on the box. When you buy from Ethical Superstore you get a choice of marvelous products from all over the world--dishwashing liquid, mops, solar lighting, garden accessories, furniture, fantastic skincare products, books, music, DVDs, wine, I mean EVERYTHING. Click the picture or the link and see for yourself.

Culture for beginners in Ghana

For those just about to arrive in Ghana, and those treading the waters for the first time right now, you might enjoy learning the basics of Ghanaian culture with this short story:

"Of all the cultural matters, the most important to observe in Ghana is what to do when meeting someone whether formally, at work, or informally such as random meetings when traveling.

Ghanaians will always take at least five minutes inquiring about each others’ family, work and health before getting down to business. No matter how pressing the matter at hand, priority is placed on the other person and the family, and there is an obligation to ask after the well being of the others’ family before anything else.

When traveling, if help is needed it is polite to first at least inquire “How are you?” to whomever you meet before asking for the help.

Shaking Hands

Like many international cultures, shaking is done exclusively with right hands. In Ghana there is an addition to this. In informal or friendly situations the middle fingers are clicked together to make a sharp “snapping” sound. In formal work situations or when meeting elders the snap is left out.

No left hands

Also, like many international cultures it is forbidden to use the left hand for anything of significance. It is reserved for cleaning one’s privates and therefore considered dirty. Do not use the left hand to eat (Ghanaians eat with their right hands), to handle money, to wave, to shake, or in any intereactions with other people."