LOCATION:  Manzini, Swaziland

DATES:  April 4-13, 2008

Click on map for larger view.

Visit our Swaziland photo gallery.

Emergency Contact Information

Families should try to contact team members in the evening at the hotels listed below (subject to hotel change).

For extreme emergencies, your family may try to reach Dr. Beyda via the following:

1.  Dr. Beyda’s World Wide Cellular: 602-228-8983
2.  Dr. Beyda’s UK world phone: 011 44 7872 856304 (direct dial from the US)
3.  Email: dbeyda@mindspring.com (email will be checked periodically.)

Please register your travel with the state department before your departure, the link for Arizona is as follows: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

Cost

Airfare plus $1000-$1300 USD (single/double occupancy)
Airfare at present is approximately $1600-$2400
For an approximant total of $3000-$3400 per person

This total includes all flights, hotel, uniforms, taxes, food, transportation, laundry, all in country hires and expenses. All incidentals such as long distance calls, etc. will be the team member’s responsibility. Travel Insurance will also be provided for emergency medical care.

Note: Price subject to increases until airfare is booked and confirmed and deposit received.
Note: Airport meals on travel days and desserts are generally not included, unless otherwise informed by team leaders while on the field.

[top of page]

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel after airfare has been secured then the $300 non-refundable deposit will go toward what loss is acquired in refunding the ticket. If the loss exceeds the $300 deposit, you are responsible for the difference. If at the point of cancellation you have sent in your trip funds, they will be returned to you minus anything you may owe for the canceling of your ticket above the $300. If a paper ticket has been obtained for you, your ticket will be mailed to you and it is up to you to contact the airline and preserve any potential value of your airline ticket for future travel. The same applies for an electronic ticket. It is the traveler’s responsibility to preserve any future value of the e-ticket. We generally secure low cost restrictive airfare so you do risk loss of part or all of this value

If you cancel less than 2 weeks prior to departure, then a $250.00 donation will be recorded for Medical Mercy and a tax receipt mailed to you. Then the balance of your funds will be returned to you.

• minus the $250 donation

• minus the $300 non refundable deposit

• minus any added difference lost in airfare cancellation

Keep in mind that after departure your entire trip is tax deductible and a tax receipt will be issued, therefore no refunds are possible after departure.

[top of page]

Trip Itinerary

Friday April 4, 2008: Team departs from Phoenix to Swaziland
Sunday April 6, 2008: Team arrives in Swaziland
Monday April 7 – Friday April 11, 2008: Medical Clinics: 8am-5pm
            6:15am Breakfast in hotel
            7:15am Depart for clinic
            7:45am Arrive at clinic, set up, prayer
            8:00am–Noon: clinic
            Noon: lunch and devotionals
            1pm – 4pm: clinic
            4pm - 5pm: clinic clean up
            5pm Depart for hotel
            6:30pm or so: dinner
Friday April 11 evening – Saturday April 12, 2008: Safari
Sunday April 13, 2008: Team departs for US

[top of page]

Target Community

We will be working in two towns Manzini and Mbabane having medical clinics at several of the Care points and the Mercy Centers that have sponsored Mission of Mercy children attending. We will be working closely with our host organization. Together we dedicate our efforts to improving the lives of children and families who have been abandoned and forgotten.

Swaziland has a high incidence of HIV and AIDS and has a high infant mortality and death rate. We have made any trips to Swaziland before, and have an excellent relationship with the community and with our hosts. We established and built a medical clinic in one of the Care Points that serves as the hub for medical care to the children and families that we serve.

In addition, there exists much poverty, as well as alcohol and drug problems and domestic related issues. Our goal is to provide a practical demonstration of Christ’s love using medicine, in order to open the door of their hearts for the evangelistic counseling that will take place on site during the outreach.

[top of page]

Departure

Medical Mercy will be securing all flight arrangements and your specific itinerary will be sent to you once arrangements are made. You are responsible for your seat selection. You can do this by contacting the airline on your itinerary.

We will depart on April 4th. You must arrive at the airport at least 2.5 hours before scheduled departure; this is 5pm for those leaving from Phoenix. Please meet at the international departure counter at British Airways terminal 4 at Sky Harbor Airport. Please do not check in until all members have arrived and you have received your luggage tags. For those leaving outside of Phoenix your luggage tags will be mailed to you along with your uniforms.The team will meet up with some members in London and some more in Johannesburg. Please make sure you wear your Medical Mercy Polo shirt.

[top of page]

Luggage

You may bring 2 bags to check in and one carry-on bag plus a purse or briefcase (airlines call this a “personal item”). 1 bag should be for your personal belongings and the other bag will be for medicines, equipment, supplies etc. This will allow us space for Medial Mercy clinic luggage and space on our vehicles in country. If you are not departing from Phoenix and are bringing extra supplies for the team you may bring 2 bags, if you are not bringing extra supplies for the team, please bring only one bag.

[top of page]

Hotel

Medical Mercy has made reservations as a group. Please note that phone calls from Swaziland will be expensive, and you should plan buy a phone card to use. We will have a local phone to use that we can call the US with, and the cost will be determined by how much it is used.

The Mountain Inn has free wireless internet and 2 desktop computers as well to use for emails. Consider bringing a laptop if you use one regularly, and subscribe to SKYPE which allows extremely cheap calls to be made from your computer, and it is free if you use your computer to talk to someone with another computer with SKYPE on it.

[top of page]

Time Zone

Swaziland is 9 hours ahead of Phoenix time

[top of page]

Voltage

230 volts. Note that a special plug adapter is needed

 
(Click on image for larger view.)

[top of page]

Climate

Local temperature will be approximately 78-85 Degrees F during the day and slightly cooler at night with chance of rain. Bring a light jacket.

[top of page]

Attire

In the clinic, scrubs should be worn. These have been given to you, and have our logo and names on them. We try to look as professional as possible. Your scrubs and travel polo will be mailed to you prior to departure. Outside of the clinic casual attire is acceptable. Women may also wear slacks, modest jewelry and make-up (do not take valuable jewelry or watches with you and ladies should not bring valuable wedding rings but opt for a simple band instead). Dress or skirt is suggested for women for church service on Sunday and possible mid-week service and nice button up shirt for men though short sleeves are okay.

[top of page]

Currency

Lilangeni (SZL) is the official currency and current exchange rate is about 7.9 Lilangeni to the dollar. Credit Cards may be accepted by some better merchant shops and will secure the best rate of exchange on the international banking market for that day. Cash is still recommended as ATM machines are often present but not guaranteed. Travelers Checks are not recommended. It is often difficult to find a place to cash them.

[top of page]

Safety

Team members should not travel without a buddy and should not travel apart from the group without special arrangements with the team leaders. All currency, credit cards and the like should be carried in safe fashion such as in an over-the-neck/under-the-shirt travel wallet. Pickpockets are quite good at getting to pockets, belt-packs and over-the-shoulder purses or cameras.

[top of page]

Packing List

Please pack all items into one carry on and one piece of luggage to be checked. This allows all team members to check a second Medical Mercy bag with medications and supplies. Extra baggage is very expensive and not included in our budget. Plan to pack at least one change of under clothes in your carry on as luggage sometimes arrives late.

Medical Mercy Polo Shirt - to be worn for travel
One set of church clothes
Casual clothes that are neat in appearance
Medical Mercy Scrubs 2 sets
A light jacket suitable for rain and a travel size umbrella
A warm sweatshirt or pullover
Toiletries
Personal medications for chronic medical problems
Bible and Notebook
Camera, film and batteries
Passport and one copy of the photo page
Airline Tickets or e- ticket itinerary
Wallet and cash (usually $100-200 U.S. is adequate for souvenirs)
Credit card for emergencies
Secure carrier for cash/credit card, etc.
Alcohol Gel Hand Cleanser 1 bottle to share at clinic, one small purse size for personal use
Set of earplugs in case your roommate snores!
Travel alarm clock
Reading material for flights
Sunglasses
Small bottle of mosquito/bug repellant
Sunscreen
Kleenex (pocket variety)
Safety pin or two
Plastic kitchen trash bag for wet/dirty clothing/shoes and general purpose
Snacks-protein bars, nuts and crystal light mixes to add to a H2O bottle, it is up to you
1 large bag of dum dums for the kids we see

Medical Equipment (if you are an Examiner)

Stethoscope
Sphygmomanometer (B.P. Cuff)
Oto/Ophthalmoscope with tips (battery powered are best but not mandatory)
Scissor
Reflex Hammer
Anything else packable that you use often in your practice

[top of page]

MEDICAL

Vaccines

All travelers should be up-to-date on routine immunizations including Tetanus and Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B should be up to date for all examiners. Consult with your doctor about other potential exposures which are possible but less likely. Dengue fever has been a problem at times though no recent outbreaks are known.

[top of page]

Sunburn

We will at times be exposed to some fairly intense sun particularly on our free day outings so wearing a hat and sunscreen is highly advisable.

[top of page]

Dehydration

Working in hot, tropical climates makes it easy to get dehydrated. Bottled water will be provided for the team and you should make a conscious effort to stay hydrated during the week even when things get busy in the clinic. Signs of dehydration include nausea, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, lethargy, decreased urine output and dark/concentrated urine that may burn. Later more ominous signs include decreased sweating and hot dry skin. Please report any ill feelings to a team leader immediately.

[top of page]

Food Borne Illness

We take all precautions to select “safe” restaurants and if local churches are cooking meals to follow our strict guidelines on hygiene and appropriate food preparation. Please follow team leaders advise while on the trip. Keep hands washed and use the alcohol gel cleansers frequently and particularly before meals. Avoid artificial nails and keep fingernails clean as well. At times illness does occur despite the best efforts of prevention so be sure to report any fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea to the medical director.

[top of page]

Illness

Please inform the team physician if you are feeling ill during the trip. The team medical officer will be well equipped to deal with any acute illness among team members. Insurance will be provided for accident, illness and/or emergency evacuation.

If after arriving home you experience any illness, but particularly fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, excessive diarrhea, please seek immediate medical attention from your physician and inform them that you have been overseas and to which country. This will greatly aid in rapid diagnosis and treatment.

[top of page]