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Travel Information Suriname, Health and Safety Precautions

Suriname is located out of the hurricane-zone and doesn't know natural disasters as earthquakes, bushfires, floods and storms.

Avoid serious sunburn, build up a suntan gradually.

You don't have to be afraid of catching any dangerous tropical disease in Suriname but be careful if you are going into the interior as malaria is always a cause for concern and should be taken very seriously.

Surinam has the purest drinking water right from the tap. (naturally filtered through sun bleached white savannah sand)

A vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory. Some Health Departments advise that you also get vaccinated against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and Hepatitis A.

An anti-malaria prophylactic is strongly recommended when you visit wilderness areas.

Inquire by tropical medicine divisions of the Department of Public Health in your country as to what medications are available locally.

Use common sense and be street smart while travelling. Better to be safe than sorry.

Suriname is basically an easy going and non-violent society. Society is harder than it was a generation ago, but it is still exceptionally friendly and remarkably safer than in most countries in the region.

Between Albina and Mungo in the eastern distrikt of Suriname , travellers from French Guiane have been robbed in june 1999. Ask your local touroperater for information.

You should, nevertheless, take the same normal safety precautions you would take in any vacation spot. In obvious places, like the Central Market in Paramaribo and at bus stops, there may be pickpockets, but purse-snatchers are rare.

Watch out for drugabuse. The Surinam justice department does not differentiate between soft and hard drugs.

Women

Despite the prevailing lady killer/pick-up culture, as a woman alone or with a friend can walk around relaxed in Suriname. Many men consider flirting a game. They often behave provocatively but they are not aggressive or pushy towards strangers. Mostly they limit attracting attention by making a psssshhht - noise, between their teeth and pursed lips or they call out a Dutch girl's name. The odd one may use course language or try to touch girls. Ignore unwanted advances and show clearly if you think that the man goes too far. Avoid noisy environments during the day such as bars where only men visit. You will soon feel like a window display and will be subjected to showing off and valuations being made about your looks and figure and your willingness to have contact. At parties many men often dance very close to their partner whereby they often cause embarrassment by bringing their lower body tightly against hers. If they cannot be held at arm length then suggest that you dance separately.

Other Precautionary Measures

Never drink water out of a river that is inhabited upstream in that region.
Boil your drinking water or use water-purifying tablets first.
Be sure to do this especially in the dry season, as the water level is low.
Be careful when having sexual contact because of the risk of being infected with the HIV virus.

For those who are prone to sunburn, it would be better to stay out of the sun for the first few days. If you really want to sun bathe then do so in the morning before ten o'clock or in the afternoon after four o'clock and use a good sun cream. In the shade you will also get a tan from the ultra violet rays. During a journey in an open korjaal (dugout canoe), keep your arms and legs covered and wear a hat. If you get diarrhoea, due to the change in food, then usually a dose of Norit is sufficient to cure it.

Wash fresh fruit and vegetables and do not eat any food if you are not sure about the hygiene or if it tastes bad.
Fungal infections and scabies, actually rare in Suriname , can best be avoided by taking at least one shower a day and drying yourself properly.

Hospitals in Paramaribo

In spite of the shortage of medical personnel and medicines, those with foreign currency have good help at their disposal. Be sure to ask for a specified receipt after treatment. Tourists who are treated in the causality department are asked to pay cash in advance.