Medical, Health & Wellness Policy

The following information pertains to the Black Birthright travel experience. Scholars and parents/guardians are expected to read this policy in full, understand its contents, and proactively address questions with Black Birthright leadership.

 
 
 

Medical

Black Birthright’s number one priority during travel is traveler safety. We aim to deliver an educational, enlightening and enjoyable experience, but our key consideration and motivation is traveler safety.

Our leadership team engages in a variety of strategies and practices to ensure travelers are safe during travel.

Prior to travel, Black Birthright Scholars are required to complete a questionnaire regarding their medical/health history. Among other things, this information is used to help Black Birthright leadership assess a Scholar’s needs during travel and further ensure that our leadership, destination, medical facilities, and emergency plans can accommodate those needs.

Additionally, Black Birthright Scholars are required to undergo an examination from a United States-based, board-certified physician who is actively practicing medicine in a relevant field. The physician must state that the Scholar is in good physical and mental health to travel.

Scholars and Parents who do not comply with these requirements, provide misleading or incomplete information, withhold information, or falsely represent the Scholar in any application or required documents, will be denied admittance to or ongoing participation in Black Birthright.

Black Birthright reserves the right to deny travel to Scholars who currently have or previously had medical conditions, diagnosed or undiagnosed, which will prevent the Scholar from safely and fully participating in the travel experience. Black Birthright will make this determination at the sole discretion of its leadership. Meaning, Black Birthright does not require agreement with a Scholar’s physician(s) to make its travel determination about a Scholar.

Scholars who have experienced any of the following in the two years preceding the Scholar’s acceptance to Black Birthright, are not permitted to travel:

  • Epilepsy

  • Seizures or seizure-like activity

  • Reoccurring fainting episodes

  • Sudden loss of consciousness, explained or unexplained

  • Asthma attacks requiring emergency care and/or hospitalization

  • Heart disease

  • Cardiac arrest

  • Heart attack

  • Arrhythmia

  • Stroke

  • Aneurysm

  • Pulmonary embolism

  • Blood clots

  • Blood/bleeding disorders, including hemorrhage

  • Cancer

  • Tumors

  • Flare-ups associated with auto-immune diseases/disorders

  • Organ failure

  • Organ transplant

  • Life-threatening infectious diseases (e.g. meningitis)

  • Sleep-related disorders including: Insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep walking, etc.

  • Eating/food-related disorders including: Bulimia, anorexia, binge eating, restrictive food intake inhibiting growth and development, etc.

  • Severe depression

  • Severe anxiety

  • Nervous breakdown

  • Substance abuse

  • Self-harm attempts or actualization

  • Suicide attempts

  • Any surgery or hospitalization which will impact the Scholar’s ability to travel safely and fully participate in the travel experience

The aforementioned list serves as a guide and is not exhaustive and all-encompassing. Black Birthright leadership, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to deny travel to any Scholar who demonstrates a diagnosis, symptoms or signs of a medical issue/concern that would make travel unsafe for the Scholar and/or the cohort.

 
 

Health

The Black Birthright travel experience requires daily, sustained physical activity including, but not limited to:

  • Walking in a variety of environments (e.g. city, suburbs, dirt roads/rural areas, etc.)

  • Scholars should feel comfortable walking at least 1.5 - 2 miles in warm weather (i.e. 80 - 95 degrees Fahrenheit).

  • Hiking

  • Light running

  • Vehicle travel over rough roads

  • Boat rides

  • Carrying own bags (including backpacks, purses, suitcases and other luggage)

  • Climbing stairs

  • Standing for extended periods

  • Sitting on hard surfaces (e.g. wood, the ground) for extended periods

  • Dancing, drumming

  • Water activities*

*Scholars are not required to know how to swim, but we will participate in activities in, on or near water during travel. Scholars who cannot swim will not be requested, required, nor permitted to engage in water-based activities that put them at risk of injury or drowning.

 
 

Wellness

The Black Birthright travel experience places Scholars in a different environment than that to which they are accustomed. Differences include, but are not limited to: geography, time zones, climate, cuisine, meal times, accommodations, sleep duration, sleep times, activities, availability of amenities, language, cultural practices, etc.

As such, it is imperative that Scholars manage their self-care proactively, independently and effectively. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Getting adequate rest during travel

  • Staying hydrated at all times

  • Eating a balanced diet during available meal times

  • Daily hygiene (e.g. bathing, teeth brushing, cosmetic grooming, etc.)

  • Taking any medications prescribed by the Scholar’s physician(s) according to dosage and schedule

  • Taking prescribed malaria prophylaxis according to schedule

Scholars who repeatedly do not engage in proactive and constructive self-care activities may be sent home from travel.