Africa Sao Tome and Principe
- Population
- 200,000
- Capital
- São Tomé
- Currency
- Dobra (STD)
- Language(s)
- Portuguese, creole
During your stay
Once there, stay alert as you could be exposed to other diseases for which no vaccines or preventive treatments are available.
- Chikungunya Virus
- Mosquito protection is recommended at all times in certain regions of the country.
- Schistosomiasis
- Schistosomiasis is present in certain regions of the country. Avoid all contact with fresh water (swimming, fishing, drinking untreated water).
Assistance abroad
It is recommended that travellers purchase a travel insurance policy that includes a 24-hour emergency assistance service to help them access care and coordinate payment. Be sureto have your insurance company’s phone number with you at all times.
It is also recommended that you sign up for the “Registration of Canadians Abroad” service. This is a free service that allows the Government of Canada to notify you in case ofan emergency abroad or at home. The service also enables you to receive important information before or during a natural disaster or civil unrest. For more information, visit theGovernment of Canada website at:travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration.
The Canadian Government has several offices abroad that can provide you with various services when faced with a medical emergency, including:
- Providing you with names of doctors and health care facilities.
- Visiting you in the hospital and providing translation/interpretation services.
- Arranging for a medical evacuation if you require treatment that is not available in the area (note: costs for this service will not be covered by the government but areusually covered by your travel insurance).
If you need any help while travelling, contact:
Emergency services
- In case of emergency, dial:
- Police
- 2222222
- Medical assistance
- 221221
- Firefighters
- 112
Consular services
- 13010G, Palm close, Diplomatic drive, Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria
- +234 (209) 461 2900
- +234 (209) 461 2901
- abuja@international.gc.ca
Make sure that your passport is valid for the entire duration of your stay. Several countries also require travelers’ passports to be valid up to six months beyond the expectedreturn date.
Recommended vaccines
Below is a list of immunizations (vaccines) and screenings recommended or required by local health authorities for Canadians travelling to this destination. Note that these aregeneral recommendations. For a personalized protection program adapted to your travelling and health needs, visit a Travel Health Clinic. If you need several vaccines, plan aheadand give yourself several weeks to complete the immunization schedule.
- General vaccination and immunization
- Vaccines, including diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis and measles are part of Canada's routine immunization schedule. Check to make sure that you have been vaccinated and that you have received the required booster doses. Special recommendations may apply to poliomyelitis, refer to the specialized agencies.
- Hepatitis A
- Vaccination is recommended for most travellers.
- Hepatitis B
- Vaccination is recommended for most travellers.
- Malaria
- Malaria is present throughout the country. Consequently, prophylaxis is recommended for the entire country. Drugs of choice are: atovaquone proguanil, doxycycline, and mefloquine. Also, mosquito protection may lower the risk of contracting mosquito-borne infections such as malaria.
- Rabies
- Vaccination is recommended for certain groups of travellers only. This includes people who will work there as veterinarians, wildlife workers or spelunkers, as well as adventure travellers.
- Typhoid fever
- Most travellers should consider vaccination. Transmission occurs via the fecal-oral route, especially through the ingestion of contaminated food or water.
- Yellow fever
- A vaccination certificate may be required for certain travellers.