Reviewing,  your Vaccination history is a must, before traveling overseas. You can find the recommended vaccinations for the area you're traveling to on the Center for disease control ( CDC ) website. Make sure to leave yourself time if you need to have multiple injections.

Check your current Travel Warnings. Most of the places where clinics are conducted are relatively stable but some may not be and the political air in a country can change quickly.  Keep up to date on current events within the government and culture. Searching Google News can be very helpful for the latest news on a specific area. There is also the IRIN, a with current news on humanitarian efforts world wide. This is a news service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Know The Culture! Know the culture! Know the culture! Should you dress traditionally or just conservatively? Do we shake hands or is touching inappropriate? There are many many cultures that can be offended easily by very small gestures, actions or sayings. Google different articles and travel blogs so that you can read about foreigners experiences. Learn from THEIR mistakes and not your own. Manners are also universal, if you can not speak the language, make sure you can at least say; Please, Thank You, Excuse Me, and Sorry. Babel Fish is a great program where you and translate different languages by just typing in what you want to say.

Register with the local embassy. This is a important thing to do.  If anything were to happen in the country you are traveling in, your government needs to be aware of your presence there.  Foreign citizens have had to be evacuated from others countries on more then one occasion in the last 5 years. Make sure you are one the government's list if they need to come and get you.

Currency should only be changed at the airport or a bank. Counterfeit money is a huge problem overseas. Its better to pay the fees then find your money is fake. Along with using the airports or banks, try not to use ATM's at night and if possible also try not to be alone while you are withdrawing money from them. This will help ward off potential thieves.  XE is a website with an extensive currency converter if you want an idea how far your funds will go. Keep in mind inflation is rampant in most of the developing countries. i.e. a Beer in Uganda is about $3,000 Shillings. Also if you are bringing USD, you will get a better exchange rate for larger bills, and all 100$bills should be dated AFTER 2006. It is never a bad idea to keep some USD on you in case the need for it should arise.

Medications should be in the original bottle they were in when dispersed from your pharmacy. You should bring the original prescription with you as well. Make sure to have enough medication with you to get you by as well as extra just is case anything should happen. Keep in mind the area you will be in, Will refrigeration be available? Will you need more medication then normal? Will what you have be enough? Keep in mind environmental factors when planing your medication needs. i.e. allergies, asthma, dust, humidity, heat and cold, rain, daily physical exertion and nutritional intake.

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What to Bring

* Copy of Passport. - With 2 extra 2x2 Photos
* Travel Medical insurance
* Antibiotics and all personal medications
* Hand sanitizer
* Calling Cards - (make sure they will work in the country your going.)
* Baby Oil - keeps insects away
* Vitamin C and Citronella oil also keep away insects
* Electrolyte mixes that can be added to bottled water
* Teatree Oil - natural antimicrobial and keeps insects away.
* Laundry Soap & Toilet Paper
* Power Bars/ Meal Bars
* Silverware/ Knife - (Highly recommend a Hobo Tool)
* Calamine or Hydrocortisone Cream
* Small Gifts for patients/children (i.e. crayons, paper, markers)
* DEET and Permethrin can both be used to keep away insects but the benefits and risks have to be weighted. They do work but both are known to be carcinogens and cause tumors in lab animals.
* Light rain gear
* Anti-Malarial
* Camp stove if needed, Keep in mind canisters have to be bought in country.

* Stethoscope
* Blood Pressure cuff (pediatric and adult)
* Tropical Medicine Reference
* Drug book
* Glucometer
* Thermometer
* Pill splitter/crusher
* Gloves
* Hydrogen peroxide and Alcohol swabs
* Ophthalmoscope & Otoscope
* Sharps Container

Medical equipment is generally supplied but always double check.  It is always good to bring your own if you already have it. Having familiar equipment with you in foreign conditions will really aid your practice.
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What NOT to Bring

* Anything you are not prepared to loose or have stolen.
* Avoid name Brand Clothing
* Clothing with flags or names of cities on them
* Expensive electronics
* Expensive jewelry
* Strapped shirts or tube tops
* Avoid tight clothing.
* Avoid short skirts or shorts. 

You want to avoid anything that makes you stand out, or makes you offensive. Read up on the culture of the area you are going to. You need to dress in the conservative style of THEIR fashion.