All students traveling to Ghana are advised to see a travel health specialist at least 4-6 weeks prior to their departure. During the travel health visit, information on staying safe and healthy during your travels, recommended and required vaccinations, and medications, including antimalarial medication, will be discussed and offered.

Services in Accra

There are four clinics available to students:

  • 37 Military Hospital (State Owned)
  • TRUST Hospital
  • Akai House Clinic
  • Nyaho Medical Centre

More country-specific health information will be provided on-site during orientation week.

Health Feedback

Prepare for Accra

Medical

Required Vaccinations

  • Yellow fever vaccine is required for entry into Ghana and is only available from designated yellow fever vaccination clinics. This vaccine must be administered at least 10 days prior to arrival in Ghana or other area with yellow fever transmission. The vaccine should be noted on the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV). The certificate should be affixed to the visa inside the student passport and presented at the port of entry in Ghana. NYU’s Travel Medicine Department can help students obtain the yellow fever vaccine and an international certificate of vaccination.
  • An adult dose of polio vaccine booster is recommended for all travelers to Ghana who have completed their childhood polio vaccination series.
    • A Level 2 Travel Alert for travelers to Ghana was posted by the CDC on September 17, 2019 due to an outbreak of polio.
    • The CDC travel notice states: "If you will be in Ghana for more than 4 weeks, the Ghanaian government may require you to show proof of polio vaccination before you leave the country.”
  • Tetanus
  • Typhoid vaccine
  • Hepatitis A & B vaccines
  • Meningococcal vaccine
  • Tuberculosis screening test before travel and again 8-10 weeks after returning, is recommended for travelers staying longer than one month in Ghana due to increased transmission of tuberculosis in the area.

Recommended Vaccinations

  • A rabies vaccination is recommended if you will be traveling into a remote area where you cannot receive medical treatment within 24 hours.
  • For malaria, mefloquine, doxycycline, or malarone is recommended for all areas of Ghana. Chloroquine and proguanil resistant malaria has been reported in all areas of Ghana. Malaria has been a serious and dangerous problem for students who stop taking their pills in Ghana. Students must understand that they must protect themselves from malaria by taking an antimalarial drug and by preventing mosquito bites.

First-Year Students

All first-year students are required to comply with the Health Requirements for All Students.

Additional Resources

Mental Health

While studying abroad is an incredible experience, it often takes time to adjust to a new culture, living arrangements, food, language and immersion into the unfamiliar. Some students feel overwhelmed, others homesick. Some afraid, others depressed. Student may periodically feel out of sorts.

The attitudes toward counseling, or therapy, vary from one country to another. Similarly, the availability of resources and type of services may be different from what a student is accustomed to in their home country.

Students must plan ahead before departure! Call the Wellness Exchange at 212.443.9999 or write to wellness.exchange@nyu.edu if help is needed in making connections to mental health professionals abroad.

Counseling

If a student is currently attending counseling or seeing a therapist regularly, they should consider the following:

  • If treatment is essential to functioning, a student must identify a therapist PRIOR TO their departure!
  • If a student is considering taking a hiatus from treatment, they should have a plan in the event they need to see someone while abroad.

Prescriptions

If a student is presently taking prescribed psychotropic medication:

  • The student must meet with their prescribing physician to discuss
  • Receive enough medication to last until the student returns. (Note: for some conditions and some medications, this is not possible)
  • Prescriptions from American doctors cannot be filled abroad. Obtain a referral to a psychiatrist or medical doctor abroad who can follow the student and write prescription refills.

The Moses Center for Student Accessibility

Students in need of disability-related accommodations who are considering global opportunities at NYU are strongly encouraged to contact the Moses Center before choosing a site. An Accessibility Specialist is able to discuss accessibility and accommodations at locations of interest.

If you have already chosen a site and are currently registered with the Moses Center, be sure to contact your Accessibility Specialist before you arrive at your site to discuss transferring accommodations.

If you have already chosen a site and are not registered with the Moses Center but anticipate you might need accommodations, please visit the Moses Center website to register. It is best to register before arriving at your site, but you can request accommodations at any time.

Health Insurance

New York University requires that students studying away as part of their education program be covered under an NYU-sponsored Student Health Insurance plan. Students must continue to maintain health insurance coverage in their home countries in the event they need to return home.