Travel brief: African Cancer Coalition/NCCN Meeting, Abuja, Nigeria

April 19, 2018

This document provides some basic information about travel related to the upcoming African Cancer
Coalition/NCCN Meeting (April 25-27) to assist you with preparation for your trip.

► Safety and Security

Nigeria has had some recent security issues in the northern part of the country, but Abuja, where we
will be meeting, is generally quiet and safe. While the overall risk rating for Nigeria is high, the risk
rating for Abuja is low. Vehicle accidents, malaria, and travel-related illnesses pose the greatest
health/safety risks. Muggings in the street are rare, particularly during working hours, so it is
generally fine to walk around during daytime hours. However, the risk of being mugged increases
after dusk. Muggings typically occur in business districts, residential areas, and bus and railway
stations, as well as the airport. If you would like to leave the hotel, it is strongly recommended that
you use one of the taxis affiliated with the hotel.

Unusual/unfamiliar laws:

• Racism or the utterance of racial remarks, is considered a serious offence in Nigeria. Stigma
or discriminatory actions based on race could attract stiff penalties, up to and including
deportation for non-nationals
• Defaming the head of state in Nigeria is a crime punishable by law and can lead to
deportation for non-nationals
• Trafficking and use of narcotics drugs/ substances of abuse such as cocaine and marijuana
are considered a serious offence and punishable by law in Nigeria.

International SOS

Travelers with the American Cancer Society have access to the Society’s corporate membership
account with International SOS. International SOS provides security, travel, and medical services in
the event of an emergency. For assistance, services can be accessed at +1 215 942 8226, using
the Membership #11BYCA094307. A smartphone app can be downloaded-search the App Store for
“International SOS”. The app provides country travel information and a portal to contact iSOS.

The joint venture of International SOS and Control Risks provides you access to the following
services:

Security Services

• Urgent and non-urgent travel security assistance and advice by telephone

• Daily online and email updates on the latest travel security developments
• Special Advisory emails with advice in response to significant travel security incidents
• Security and travel information on 220 countries and more than 330 cities
• Access to security evacuation
• Coordination of post-evacuation debriefs and counselling

Travel Services

• Legal referrals
• Emergency message transmission
• Translations and interpreters
• Lost document advice
• Ground transportation and accommodations for accompanying family members
• Emergency personal cash advances

Medical Services

• Emergency evacuation
• Medically-supervised repatriation
• Companion ticket
• Additional travel and accommodation arrangements after medical evacuation
• Repatriation of mortal remains
• Return home of minor children
• Medical monitoring
• Inpatient admission and identification of receiving physician
• Emergency and routine medical advice
• Pre-trip information on travel health issues
• Medical and dental referrals
• Outpatient referrals
• Outpatient case management
• Claims assistance
• Outpatient medical expense guarantee and payment
• Inpatient medical expense guarantee, cost review and payment
• Dispatch of medication and medical supplies

► Medical safety
Vaccines

Travelers should carry proof of Yellow Fever vaccination.

Medical Emergencies

As detailed above, all medical emergencies will be handled through the American Cancer Society
corporate membership with International SOS.

Medications

Before you leave for your trip, ensure that you have a sufficient supply of any medications that you
need. If you are dependent on a medication, consider bringing at least twice as much as you expect
to need. This is important in case travel plans change or you are delayed returning home.

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► Visa on Arrival
All participants should have received an approval letter for visa on arrival. Please be sure to print-out
and bring the visa paperwork that you received by email, along with two passport photos and your
yellow fever card.

All meeting attendees will be staying at:

Transcorp Hilton Hotel

1 Aguiyi Ironsi St.
Wuse 900001
Abuja, Nigeria
+234 708 060 3000

► Logistics
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. American Cancer Society staff will be traveling with you and easily
accessible for questions or needs throughout the week.

Dr. Meg O’Brien: +1 202-716-3911, meg.obrien@cancer.org

Alem Bekele: +1 470-583-9080, alem.bekele@cancer.org
Justine Swindell: +1 470-582-6563, justine.swindell@cancer.org
Rinty Kintu: + 256-704-519-776, kintu@treatthepain.org

Transportation and lodging

The African Cancer Coalition/NCCN meeting will take place at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja. The
American Cancer Society will arrange for your lodging and airport transfer through the hotel.

Airport transfer

When you land and collect your baggage, you will exit to the arrivals terminal. Look for your driver,
who will be holding a sign that says “African Cancer Coalition/American Cancer Society”. If you do not
find the driver, please call C&C UKA Global at +234 803 646 0866 or contact one of the ACS team
listed above.
Meeting

We’ll be meeting each day from 9am-5:30pm in the Enugu/Benue/Plateau rooms.

Food and other hotel services

The Hilton Hotel offers an array of dining options, including Nigerian, continental, and Asian cuisine.
Breakfast at the Bukka Restaurant is included with your room booking. Lunch will be provided during
the meeting. Travelers will receive a cash allowance of 50 USD each day to cover additional meals
and incidental expenses. Allowances will be distributed at the start of the meeting.

Please note that the American Cancer Society is not able to pay for or reimburse alcoholic beverages,
laundry, phone calls, business center services, or spa services. Participants should pay for these

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items using their travel allowance. Any charges signed to the room will be settled by the guest at
checkout.

Leisure

Look at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja website to get familiar with amenities, including the fitness centre
and swimming pool.

Credit cards

If you plan to use a credit card, you may want to inform your credit card provider about your dates of
travel.

Cell phone / internet

Wi-Fi should be available throughout your stay at the Hilton. Check with your cellphone service
provider to understand your coverage in Nigeria. If you don’t have it already, you may want to
download WhatsApp, which gives you free messaging and calls using Wi-fi. Skype and Facetime can
also be used for Wi-Fi calling.

Local currency

The local currency in Nigeria is the Naira. You can check the exchange rate on Oanda
(www.oanda.com) on April 19, 2018 the exchange rate was 1 USD: 358 Naira. You will be able to
exchange currency at the airport and at the hotel.

There is an ATM at the hotel. Additional purchases at the hotel, such as alcoholic beverages or spa
services, can be paid for with a credit card.

Late checkouts

Travelers with departing flights scheduled after 7pm will have late checkout, allowing them to use
their room until they depart.

► Meeting materials
Tablets
All participants receive a tablet containing materials for the meeting. These are yours to keep and
you should plan to use them for any future meetings of the African Cancer Coalition. If you already
received a tablet, please be sure to bring it to the meeting and have it charged up for the first day.

All of the files used during the upcoming workshop can be found here.

► Packing Recommendations
Temperature

You can find the 10-day forecast here. Temps will be 75-95 F but the hotel is air-conditioned and
may be chilly.

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Medications

The American Cancer Society team will have a kit with oral rehydration salts, malaria diagnostic kit
and treatment, and other basic over-the-counter medicines, should you need them.

Power adapters

In Nigeria the power sockets are type G (photo below). The standard voltage is 240 V and the
standard frequency is 50 Hz. American Cancer Society staff will have extra plug adapters if you need
them. Computer adapters, cell phones, and iPads are usually dual voltage and can be plugged in
with a simple plug adapter. Other electronic devices may require a voltage converter to use safely.

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