Health and Medical Information for Dominican
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Health Issues in the Dominican Republic
Major health problems among Volunteers in the Dominican Republic are rare and are often the result of a Volunteer’s not taking preventive measures to stay healthy. The most common health problems in the country are minor ones that are also found in the United States, such as colds, diarrhea, sinus infections, skin infections, headaches, dental problems, STIs, adjustment disorders, and alcohol abuse. These problems may be more frequent or compounded by life in the Dominican Republic because certain environmental factors here raise the risk or exacerbate the severity of illnesses and injuries.
The most common major health problems are malaria, amoebic dysentery, dengue fever, and HIV/AIDS. Because malaria is endemic in the Dominican Republic, taking antimalarial pills is required. You will receive vaccinations against the following: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, rabies, typhoid, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), and TD (tetanus and diphtheria). If you have already received any of these vaccinations, please bring written documentation of the dates they were administered.
Amoebic dysentery can be avoided by thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables and either boiling drinking water or using the water purification tablets provided in your Peace Corps-issued medical kit.
