The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a harsh warning by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to nearly a million tourists planning to visit popular African destinations. The government's latest travel advisory on Cape Verde warns about the country's limited medical facilities for visitors.
According to updated advice released on February 24th, medical facilities across Cape Verde are considered “basic and limited.”
Additionally, visitors may have difficulty accessing certain medications because “some medications are short or unavailable.” Boa Vista Island, located in the Eastern Cape Verde, is being highlighted specially by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to its limited medical facilities.
Those concerned about the availability of hospitals in Cape Verde should note that the biggest hospitals are in Santiago, San Vicente and Ply, Mindelo. However, medical evacuation can be particularly difficult on Brava and Santo Antao islands, as there are no functional airports.
As Portuguese is the main language used in written communication and spoken language, language barriers can also pose challenges for tourists. Nevertheless, the official guidance points out that there are two hospitals with English-speaking staff.
Cinica Boa Esperanca, Boa Vistaclinitur, Santa Maria
If you are taking regular medications, it is important to note that the Foreign Office will advise that the legal status and regulations of certain UK prescription drugs may differ in other countries. .
For example, in Cape Verde, medications can only be purchased from registered pharmacies. If you are traveling on medication, make sure it is sufficient to continue your entire trip.
If you run out of use, you can use the UK prescription at the pharmacy, but keep in mind that the same strength and dosage may not be available. If you require a repeat prescription, you can access the nearest health center or hospital emergency department.
A comprehensive list of registered pharmacies in Cape Verde is approved by the country's Ministry of Health, but can be found here.
