Health, vaccinations and medical care in Nigeria

There is no ambulance coming

• Nigeria has no national ambulance service and hospital-owned services are extremely limited. 112 will take a report; it will not reliably send a vehicle.
• That makes the plan different. Know which hospital your insurer will use, know how you would get there, and treat "call an ambulance" as a step that may not work.
• Call your insurer as soon as you are referred anywhere. Public hospitals charge, private hospitals charge more, and you pay.

Before you go

• Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry, with exemptions only for infants of 8 months or under and adults of 61 or over.
• Malaria is countrywide. Start prophylaxis before you travel.
• Dengue and Zika are also present, and neither has a tablet. Repellent, covered arms, and think about Zika if you are pregnant or planning to be.
• Schistosomiasis means not swimming or wading in fresh water.
• See a travel clinic at least 8 weeks out.

Medicines

• Pharmacies are widely available and accept UK prescriptions. A Nigerian doctor can write a new one for a fee.
• Carry the original packaging so anyone can see exactly what you take.