The most serious health threat to travelers in Rwanda is malaria. Akagera National Park and other low-lying parts of the east qualify as high-risk malarial areas, especially in the rainy season. The risk exists but is far lower in highland areas such as Kigali, Butare, Nyungwe National Park, the Virunga Mountains and foothills, and the Lake Kivu region. Nevertheless, all visitors to Rwanda should take preventative measures against malaria, and be alert to potential symptoms both during their trip and after they return home.
Health & Safety Information
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Summary
The most serious health threat to travelers in Rwanda is malaria. Akagera National Park and other low-lying parts of the east qualify as high-risk malarial areas, especially in the rainy season. The risk exists but is far lower in highland areas such as Kigali, Butare, Nyungwe National Park, the Virunga Mountains and foothills, and the Lake Kivu region. Nevertheless, all visitors to Rwanda should take preventative measures against malaria, and be alert to potential symptoms both during their trip and after they return home.
Other less common but genuine health threats include the usual array of sanitation-related diseases such as cholera, giardia, dysentery, typhoid etc. associated with the tropics, and bilharzia, which can only be caught by swimming in freshwater habitats inhabited by the snail that carries the disease.
Vaccination Requirements
It is advisable to be up to date on tetanus, polio and diphtheria (given as an all-in-one vaccine, Revaxis, that lasts for ten years), and hepatitis A vaccinations. Immunisations against meningococcus, cholera and rabies may also be recommended. Proof of vaccination against yellow fever is needed for entry into Rwanda for all travelers over one year of age, regardless of where you are coming from.
Yellow Fever vaccination
All travelers coming from YF-endemic countries and/or where there is an active outbreak of yellow fever must to produce proof of vaccination at border posts. Delegates without proof of vaccination will be immunized in the airport clinic at a cost of US$40.
For more information on Yellow Fever, please visit the Rwanda immigration website for instructions on Yellow Fever prevention measures.
Health Services
First aid and emergency services will be available at the Kigali Convention Centre. For more extensive medical services, delegates are advised to seek treatment at one of the following hospitals:
- King Faysal Hospital: +250 788307561
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali (CHUK) : +250 788868240
- Kanombe Military Hospital: +250 788305703
In case of emergency or accident, delegates should call the Emergency Medical Hotline: +250 7883001116. If you are on any routine medication/s, please carry sufficient supplies including your doctor’s prescription for the duration of your stay.
Medical insurance
You are responsible for your own travel insurance and medical insurance - the event organizers do not cover this.
We recommend that your medical insurance should:
- Take effect as soon as you leave your home country or place of residence.
- Be recognized by the main referral hospitals (the King Faisal Hospital, Kigali; University Teaching Hospital of Kigali and Rwanda Military Hospital)
- Cover medical treatment in Rwanda
- Cover medical evacuation and treatment within Africa
- Cover repatriation to home country or place of residence
If you are on any routine medication/s, please carry sufficient supplies for the duration of your stay. Private health insurance companies in Rwanda provide a package that includes; medical services in Rwanda, medical evacuation and treatment in Africa, repatriation to home country or country of residence.
Safety & Security
The Rwandan government is dedicated to ensuring the utmost safety and security for all participants, observers, and staff at APAC2022. We ask for your support in maintaining our event security measures, including security checks at the Kigali Convention Centre entrance for all attendees. Furthermore, we kindly ask that all delegates wear their conference identity badges visibly at all times.
Petty crime is quite rare, but theft from hotel rooms, homes and vehicles can occur. Keep valuables out of sight. When driving, lock your windows and doors.
Hiring a vehicle: If you’re hiring a vehicle, you are advised not to hand over your passport as a form of security. If you’re allowing your passport to be photocopied, keep it in your sight at all times. Check that you have adequate insurance and read the small print of the vehicle hire contract (particularly any waiver that will come into effect if the vehicle is damaged).
Please note that the rainy seasons in Rwanda are from February to May and September to December.
