There are several medical issues to consider when participating on a trip to the Dominican Republic. 

Tetanus

Your tetanus booster should be up to date.

Malaria

There is some malaria in the Dominican Republic. Depending on the time of the year and recent weather conditions, the mosquito population can vary from light to heavy. To deal with the risk of malaria, we recommend that you get a prescription of malaria pills. Chloroquine is recommended. Bring plenty of mosquito repellent for morning and evening hours. You will have a mosquito net to sleep under. There were a few cases of malaria reported by tourists in the eastern end of the island in late 2004. An update is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/malaria_dr_2004.htm

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A can be contracted from contaminated food and water. Although we use all bottled water and we have our own cook who is very experienced in food preparation, we recommend that participants get the Hepatitis A vaccine. We encourage participants not to eat uncooked food if eating at a restaurant, and to not drink any beverages in which you do not observe how it is prepared.

AIDS

Although concerns about AIDS should not stop you from volunteering, commonly practiced precautions need to be taken anytime you are working with small children. These precautions will be reviewed upon your arrival at the orphanage.

Dengue Fever

There have been cases of Dengue Fever reported in the Dominican Republic. The government has been aggressive in spraying for mosquitos and educating the public of the dangers of stagnant water, etc. The recoommendations for tourists are to wear mosquito repellents, use mosquito nets, etc. Please visit the CDC web site for complete medical precautions and more detailed information: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/caribean.htm