Packing List

Note: There is a medium-sized hotel-type safe in each room at IU House. There are several large stores in Eldoret that have household goods, toiletries, groceries, etc.

Travel 

• Passport: must not expire within six months of your return date
• Printed-out copy of Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
• Paper copies of passport, driver’s license, itineraries, contact info for program folks and friends/family (keep all copies in a different place than the originals)
• Money belt or pouch
• Debit card
• Credit card: some ATMs don’t accept debit cards, so a credit card is necessary. Make sure to notify the bank ahead of time and let them know you’ll be traveling outside the country
• Immunization records
• A yellow international vaccination book is not needed for entry into Kenya, but may be needed if traveling to neighboring countries
• Copies of prescriptions for medicines and glasses/contacts
• Travel health insurance card
  • For IU residents/fellows: Need your IU health insurance card, see more info here.
• ​Contact card: containing the street addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of the following:
  • Family member or close contact remaining in home country
  • Health care provider(s) at home
  • Lodging at your destination
  • Hospitals or clinics (including emergency services) in your destination
  • Home country’s embassy or consulate in the destination country or countries

• You will wash your own clothes (or pay to have it laundered), so bring enough for about one week.
• Layer! Temperatures are often cool in the mornings then quite warm by the middle of the afternoon. There is no indoor heating, so slippers/warm socks are important.
• Pack a couple of days’ worth of clothes in your carry-on bag in case your checked luggage gets lost on the way.
• It is not appropriate to wear shorts outside of the IUH compound, even for exercise.  Bring athletic pants or capri pants if you plan to run outside of the IUH compound.
• In general, Kenyans dress more formally than we do.
• People wore scrubs at work but most registrars (residents) and consultants (attendings) have gone back to wearing professional attire. It’s better to be overdressed than look too informal, especially since you are a visitor. Bring 2-3 sets of scrubs but PLAN TO WEAR PROFESSIONAL DRESS UNLESS YOU ARE EXPLICITLY TOLD OTHERWISE BY YOUR SENIOR RESIDENT OR ATTENDING IN KENYA.

Men: 

• Button-up dress shirts
• Ties: plan to wear it ever day at the hospital (may not need it depending on Kenyan consultant)
• Dress pants
• Undergarments
• Sport coat: only for faculty

Women:  

Note: Kenyan women do not show their thighs, midriff, or cleavage.

• Dress pants or skirts (either is culturally acceptable; wear whatever is comfortable)
• Skirts should be at or below the knee
• Shirts for work: avoid spaghetti straps and very short sleeves
• Undergarments

Everyone: 

• Fleece, light jacket, or sweatshirt – it gets chilly in the evenings
• Clothes to relax in while at “home” (IU House or hostel):
• Yoga/casual pants / jeans / shorts
• T-shirts
• Shower sandals that have traction
• Work shoes: ones that can get dusty/muddy then rinsed off (often daily)
• Crocs (ballet slipper version for women); if going to the OR, bring crocs without holes.
• Hiking shoes, tennis shoes or sturdy sandals
• Hats, gloves, and thick shocks IF you plan to climb mountains
• Zip-off hiking pants: optional, but nice for hikes
• Headbands for windy car trips

General Living 

• Laptop: there is always a risk of something getting stolen (as there is anywhere), so lock it in your safe when not using it.
• Unlocked smartphone: get an old one to take with you if you don’t want to bring your regular phone
• See “Arriving in Kenya” for info on buying a Kenyan SIM card in the Nairobi airport. This allows Wi-Fi access.
• Download WhatsApp prior to arrival on whatever phone you choose to use while in Kenya.
• Alarm clock (if not available on your phone)
• Converter: may be needed for electronic toothbrushes, hair dryer, phone charger, laptop charger, etc.
• Universal adapter
• Sunscreen: available in Eldoret but very expensive (~$30/small tube)
• Sunglasses: inexpensive ones
• Lotion: it can be very dry there
• Chapstick with sunscreen
• Unique hygiene items: almost all regular hygiene items can be bought at grocery stores there, for a price
• Small supply of feminine products: pads and tampons are available in Eldoret
• Razor
• Tweezers
• Fingernail clippers
• Reusable water bottle
• Books for pleasure reading
• First aid kit: band aids, cipro or TMP/SMX, Imodium, stool softeners, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, Gravol
• ​​Personal prescriptions: bring enough for your entire trip and take in the original pharmacy bottle. Airports don’t like unmarked bottles of pills.
• Malaria prophylaxis: take enough for your entire trip. Don’t fill your script at the last minute! You may need to work with your insurance company to get enough to last the whole trip.
• Eyeglasses (consider bringing an extra pair) and/or contacts with sufficient solution for two months
• Bug spray: any DEET-containing product is effective. Picardin is an effective, safe non-DEET alternative. You can treat your clothes prior to leaving home or once you’re there.
• Hand sanitizer: two small bottles. It is available at grocery stores there.
• Day pack for hiking or weekend trips
• Rain jacket
• Umbrella
• Bathing suit (for travel)
• Mesh laundry bag or sturdy pillow case, especially for students who will be living in the hostel
• Camera

Medical Equipment 

• Home institution name tag
• White coat
• Stethoscope
•  Thermometer: forehead thermometer is useful for Peds wards (quicker and easier to use)
• Pulse oximeter with a waveform indicator to let you know if you are getting quality data (if doing Peds consider one that is sized for infants + a larger one)
• Blood pressure cuff with infant, pediatric, and adult cuffs
• Small measuring tape in cm for measuring mid upper arm circumference
• Notebook or notecards to keep notes on patients (can be bought there as well)
• Pens (can be bought there as well)
• Pen light
• Reflex hammer: useful there as it is sometimes difficult to obtain imaging and lab results for patients with altered mental status and a detailed neurologic exam can be invaluable
• Otoscope and ophthalmoscope (optional, but helpful)
• Pocket hand sanitizer

If doing Peds:

• Hospital Care for Children (WHO Pocketbook): available in book form, as a PDF, or as free smartphone app
• Past residents have recommended the app Pediatric OnCall for med dosing
• Optional: Pediatric Cardiology by Myung Park, MD

If doing surgery: 

• Scrubs x3
• Shoes for the operating room (for dedicated use only in the OR)
• Sterile gloves in your size (ORs only have size 7 and 7.5)
• OR glasses for splash protection
• Sterile gowns
• Energy bars

If doing OBGYN: 

• Same as above for surgery
• Measuring tape (to measure fundal height)
• Optional: handheld fetal Doppler (can be found for ~$60 online)

Optional 

• Gifts for Kenyan counterparts

• For medical students: penlights, pulse ox, otoscope/ophthalmoscope that you are not using, IU gear, favorite medical textbook (ideas: Maxwell’s), BP cuff

• Bring at least four, as there are usually two Kenyan medical students on a rounding team

• For kids in the Sally Test Center/rural clinics: stickers!, stapler w/ staples, bubbles, colored paper, colored pencils (with non-electric sharpener), crayons, markers, stickers, Sharpies, beads, feathers, balloons, yarn, song books, coloring books, learning activity books (ages 5-18 yrs.), games, books (ideally featuring black people), CDs of kids’ songs, world maps

• Binoculars: optional, but a must if you plan to safari!
• Hat
• Multifunctional tool
• ​​​Flashlight and/or headlamp
• Clorox wipes to wipe medical equipment clean
• Crystal Light, diet drinks, instant coffee (all difficult to find in Eldoret; bring if it’s important to you)

What NOT to bring 

• Valuables that cannot be replaced
• Travelers cheques
• Significant amounts of U.S. cash
• Large supply of feminine products: pads and tampons are available in Eldoret
• Used, expired, or broken medical equipment
• Things provided for you at IU House: towel, washcloth, sheets, blankets, pillow, laundry detergent, plenty of clean water