The medical facilities are limited and the hygienic conditions unsatisfactory. Taking out travel health insurance with repatriation insurance is strongly recommended. An individual first-aid kit should be taken with you and protected according to the temperatures on the way. Check directoryaah for more information.
Notes vaccinations
[1] A vaccination certificate against yellow fever is required for all travelers who want to enter within 6 days of staying in an infected area designated by the WHO. Excluded are travelers who have not left the transit area in the infected areas and transit passengers who do not leave the airport in Haiti. [2] Malaria protection required year-round in forested areas of Gros Morne, Hinche, Maissade, Chantal and Jacmel. In the other cantons, the risk of malaria is low. Port-au-Prince is malaria free. The more dangerous form Plasmodium falciparum occurs almost exclusively. Recommendation: mosquito repellent and emergency medication. [3] A vaccination certificate against cholera is not an entry condition. The risk of infection is very high. Since the effectiveness of the vaccination is disputed, it is advisable to seek medical advice in good time before you travel. [4] Nationwide there is an increased risk of intestinal infections. Warnings are given against eating and buying food from cheap street restaurants and markets. Water should generally either be boiled or otherwise sterilized before it is used for drinking, brushing teeth and making ice cubes, or it should be bought packaged. When buying packaged water, you should make sure that the original packaging has not been opened. Otherwise the drinking water should be boiled. When traveling inland, carry plenty of bottled drinking water. Milk is not pasteurized outside of urban areas and should also be boiled. Dairy products made from unboiled milk should be avoided; likewise pork, raw salads and mayonnaise. Meat and fish dishes should only be well cooked and served hot. Vegetables should be boiled and fruits should be peeled. Caution should be exercised before consuming fish and seafood that are offered as delicacies in restaurants because of possible algae poisoning.
Other risks
Schistosomiasis pathogens can be found in some ponds and rivers, so swimming and wading in inland waterways should be avoided. Well maintained swimming pools with chlorinated water are safe. The mosquito-borne viral infection Chikungunya does occur. Consistent protection against insects is recommended. Dengue fever, transmitted by mosquitoes, is nationwide (peak transmission period: August to February). An effective insect repellent is recommended. Filariasis caused by insects also occurs nationwide. Travelers reduce the risk of transmission if they use an effective insect repellent. Hepatitis A and B occur. Vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended for long-term stays and for children and young people also against hepatitis B. Haiti has the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the Caribbean: Unprotected sexual contacts, unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can pose a significant health risk. rabies occurs. Carriers include dogs, cats, forest animals and bats. Vaccination is recommended for backpackers, children, occupational risk groups and for longer stays. In the event of a bite, seek medical attention as soon as possible. The Zika virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, joint pain and conjunctivitis. The infection often goes unnoticed or only has mild symptoms. previously documented, isolated deaths were mainly related to other pre-existing conditions. The Federal Foreign Office advises pregnant women against non-essential travel to areas with current Zika outbreaks because the virus is suspected of causing microcephaly in the unborn child. There is neither a vaccination nor a medicinal prophylaxis. Consistent compliance with personal mosquito protection measures is recommended.
Money
Currency
1 gourde = 100 centimes. Currency code: Gde, HTG (ISO code). There are banknotes in denominations of 1000, 500, 250, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 Gde. Coins have denominations of 5 and 1 Gde and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes. Note: Prices are mostly not given in gourdes, but in dollars, whereby the so-called Haitian dollar is always meant (1 Haitian dollar corresponds to 5 gourdes).
Credit cards
Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) are accepted in some of the larger hotels, restaurants and in larger supermarkets in the capital, otherwise they are rarely accepted. Details from the issuer of the relevant credit card.
ATMs
Bank cards With the credit card and pin number, money can be withdrawn from ATMs. To be on the safe side, travelers should always have an alternative source of money such as cash. Further information from banks and credit institutes. Attention: Travelers who want to pay with their bank customer card abroad and withdraw money should find out from their bank about the possibility of using their card before starting their journey. ATMs, which do not always work, can be found in the capital and some provincial towns. ATMs in supervised supermarkets offer security when withdrawing.
Travelers cheques
Traveler’s checks are not accepted in Haiti.
Bank opening hours
Mon-Fri 08.30-16.00. Some banks also open on Saturday mornings.
Foreign exchange regulations
The import and export of local and foreign currency is unlimited. Amounts over 200,000 Gde must be declared.
Currency Exchange
US dollars are exchanged everywhere and accepted as a means of payment. Other foreign currencies can only be exchanged in some banks. It is advisable to bring cash (US dollars) in sufficient quantity and in balanced denominations. Money can also be exchanged at street vendors, but caution is advised here and only small amounts should be exchanged.
