Health, Safety & Insurance in Cape Town  

All students should monitor the State Department website for South Africa to stay abreast of health and safety advisories inCape Town. 

All students are required to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveller Enrollment Program (STEP) The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Benefits of Enrolling in STEP:

• Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.

• Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.

• Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.

• All Holy Cross study abroad participants are automatically enrolled in International SOS (IntlSOS), a state-of-the art global security assistance and international health insurance provider. IntlSOS offers comprehensive medical, security, emotional support (counseling), as well as logistical expertise, to all Holy Cross students during their time abroad. 

• The cost of this Global Assistance Program is $210 per semester, which will appear on your tuition bill. 

Download “International SOS Assistance” in the app stores  and create a new app account with your Holy Cross email address in order to get the most out of ISOS. You can also visit Visit www.internationalsos.com and log in with Member ID: 11BCAS701139

There are four primary uses for IntlSOS:

1. PRE-DEPARTURE PLANNING

• Review country-specific guidance on health and safety issues via the app or website

• Pre-arrange medical services before you leave by chatting in to ISOS through the app, sending an email through the app, or calling   (+1) 215-942-8478

2. ARRANGING AND PAYING FOR MEDICAL CARE

• Coordinate all medical services in host country using three simple steps:

If you’re sick or injured, contact IntlSOS by phone, chat (in the app) or email (in the app)

Step 1: IntlSOS can find you a medical provider/hospital OR you can choose a medical provider/hospital and inform IntlSOS (before or whiler eceiving medical services.)

Step 2: IntlSOS contacts the medical provider/hospital and arranges for your insurance to be   billed directly.

Step 3: You receive medical care and pay no out-of-pocket expenses!

If you forget to contact IntlSOS and end up paying out-of-pocket for medical expenses, contact your Holy Cross study abroad advisor for instructions on submitting an online claim for reimbursement. Be sure to save your receipts for any medical expenses you pay for out-of-pocket, because you’ll need receipts to be approved for reimbursement.  

3. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND COMMUNICATION

• • • • • • • • Get real-time security alerts for your host country

              • “Check-In” Travel Registration Tool- Press the "check-in" button whenever you are in a new city or country! Press the button when you land in your host country, and whenever you are on an overnight trip outside your host city. 

              • Get immediate assistance and communication from Holy Cross in an emergency

4. MENTAL HEALTH HELP

• If you need mental health assistance or are feeling down, Call International ISOS at  (+1) 215-942-8478 or open the ISOS app and start a chat with an agent

• ISOS will put you in touch with a mental health provider on the ground, or connect you with a mental health provider via phone or a tele-health appointment 

lSOS Insurance covers you while you are abroad; however, students are required to maintain their domestic (U.S. based) health insurance coverage while abroad in case they need to return to the U.S. outside of the enrollment period.  

If you normally opt out of the Holy Cross SHIP insurance, you can still do that while you are gone, as long as you have some other type of coverage in the US. 

Prescription Medications

All students should bring enough prescription medications to last their entire semester or year away. 

If a student is unable to obtain enough of any given medication to 'cover' them during their semester or year abroad, they should begin working with ISOS International insurance before departure to find a provider in the host city that can prescribe their medication while they are way. You can also think ahead! If, for example, a friend or family member is planning to visit at any point throughout the semester or year, the friend or family member may be able to bring over prescriptions for the student. 

Keep in mind, certain medications, especially those typically prescribed for ADD/ADHD may not be available in Cape Town. 

You can do some quick googling and/or contact ISOS international insurance before you leave for Cape Town to find out if a certain medication is available. If it is not available, you have two options: work with your doctor to find an alternative that is available, or work with your doctor to bring what you'll need with you. 

Over-the-counter Medications

All students should bring a supply of any over-the-counter medications they take on a regular basis.

Medications in different countries can be called different things, or might not be available at all. In order to avoid unnecessary stress or confusion, it can be a good idea to travel with a supply of medications you might need. If you take tums for an upset stomach, bring some tums! If your go-to for a headache is ibuprofen gel caps, bring some along. While these medications, or similar medications, are usually available abroad, it's nice to have a supply of what works for you.

Studying abroad comes with all kinds of changes that can effect student mental health. Adjusting to a new culture and new environment can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also be a challenging one. There are several mental health resources that we encourage students to access abroad:

Continuing Therapy

We find that students who have history of mental health struggles, or who speak to a therapist regularly, do the best when they continue their weekly sessions with their therapist via zoom/tele-health. 

ISOS International Health Insurance Mental Health Services

Students who are feeling down at any point or would like to speak to a therapist and don’t already have one can use ISOS Insurance (+1) 215-942-8478) to connect with a therapist via phone or on the ground (in-person). Don’t hesitate to reach out to Emma Meade for help facilitating (443-468-8953 or emeade@holycross.edu)! 

Office of Study Abroad Staff

Students who need support can reach out to Holy Cross Assistant Director for Cape Town, Emma Meade at 443-468-8953 via text or whatsapp, or email at emeade@holycross.edu

Holy Cross Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Study abroad students are still Holy Cross students, and still have access to Holy Cross Counseling and Psychological Services.  CAPS provides confidential assistance to students who have a wide range of concerns, such as stress, adjustment difficulties, relationship problems, anxiety, and depression. To reach an on-call crisis counselor 24/7 call 855-418-7282.

1. Register in the US State Department Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for the duration of your stay in

Cape Town (https://step.state.gov/step/). By doing so, you will receive up-to-date notices from the US

Embassy issued to all US citizens travelling in South Africa.

2. Always carry your charged cellphone with you.

3. Always carry some sort of valid ID with you. We recommend having your Driver’s License and a

photocopy of your passport.

4. Always let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.

5. Don’t give out personal information (e.g., address, phone number, religious/political affiliation, daily

routine, details about the program) to people you don’t know well or while chatting with your taxi driver.

6. Travel in pairs or small groups.

7. Never leave valuables/luggage unattended on campus or public places (such as bus stations). In

addition to the risk of theft, others might think it is a suspicious package and it might cause an

unnecessary security event.

8. Make a lost document kit with copies of your passport, student ID, credit and ATM cards.

9. Theft of electronic devices such as cell phones or tablets is very common. Make sure you don’t leave

your electronic devices unattended (e.g., on the table in a café or even in class).

10. If you plan to travel to any destination that has a US travel advisory, you must seek advice from CIEE

Cape Town. If CIEE is aware of your travel to a destination that has a travel advisory, we are obligated

to inform your home university if you have not already shared with CIEE their approval. The reason

being is that they might have their own policies and procedures. Not securing approvals from the

relevant parties could result in serious repercussions.

As in any other urban center, there are health, safety, and security risks in Cape Town that students should be

aware of. While common risks will be covered during on-site orientation, begin to think about the following risks

and the ways in which you can mitigate them:

• Pickpocketing and petty street crime: Petty street crime, such as theft of personal property and

“smash and grabs”, are common in certain areas in Cape Town. Be aware of your surroundings and

refrain from carrying large amounts of cash. While in a car or walking, always hide your valuables,

especially in public areas.

• Sexual harassment: South Africa is a patriarchal society and the rates of sexual and gender-based

crime and violence are high, especially in dense, poverty-stricken communities. CIEE students who are

women often experience catcalling or sexist comments/gestures while in the streets. Women on

program find comfort in discussing their experiences together and sharing ways of handling these

encounters with CIEE Cape Town staff.

• HIV: South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world. To encourage safe sex

practices, the University of Cape Town clinic provides free condoms and counseling.

Sexual Assault and Misconduct

Please do not separate from your group when/if going out at night and from people you trust. We have mostly heard of cases of assault when a student    stayed behind/alone at a bar, or walked late alone at night. It is never the victim’s fault when something happens and we are here to support our students. If you are not the victim but you see something, please say something. 

You have many resources for reporting or getting support if you’ve experienced or witnessed sexual assault, including both confidential and non-confidential resources:

Confidential Support from Holy Cross  

• College’s Primary Confidential Resource Provider 

  • 1. 1. • Elizabeth Drexler-Hines, Director of Government and Community Relations. 

          • Contact Elizabeth at 508-793-2302 and/or edrexler@holycross.edu

• Counseling Center

• Health Center

• Chaplains Office

*Non-confidential Support abroad and on-campus

• Office of Study Abroad

• Other Holy Cross Students on site

• Office of Diversity and Inclusion

• Title IX: Sexual Assault

• Public Safety

• Study Abroad Ambassadors

*Non-confidential resources, known as “Responsible Employees”, are obligated by College policy to disclose reports and information concerning potential discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital or parental status (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual harassment (including, but not limited to, sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking and sexual misconduct), or retaliation toward any member of the College community that is shared with them to the Title IX Coordinator. 

CIEE has an Emergency Alert System to contact all students in case there is an emergency such as a terrorist attack, civil unrest, or natural disaster. When an emergency occurs, CIEE Center Staff need to immediately find out where all students are, if they are safe, and if they need assistance. Once you arrive at your CIEE Center, make sure you share your local phone number and other contact information with your CIEE Center Staff.

For this system to work, you need to have a working local phone number and email. If you arrive without a working mobile phone, we require that you obtain a working phone or insert a local SIM card into your phone as soon as possible in-country and provide that number to CIEE Center Staff immediately. CIEE staff will assist you in doing this during the orientation process.

Once you begin your CIEE program, our CIEE Center Staff are going to be your best point of contact in the case of an emergency. Plan ahead and save our on-site staff’s information in your phone (or somewhere easily referenced). These phone numbers and email addresses are intended for participants on the CIEE program. Parents and guardians will receive a Departure Guide (two to four weeks before the start of the program) with the appropriate contact information should they have any concerns while the participant is onsite.

Center Director

Name: Nompilo Ndlovu

Phone: + 27 21 686 1952

After hours: +27 76 020 5949

Email: nndlovu@ciee.org

In the event of a lost/stolen passport, students are advised to take these immediate steps:

1) report the loss/theft to local authorities

2) follow the protocols posted by the US Department of State

3) contact ISOS to open a case

4) Alert the on-site director of your program

5) Alert the Office of Study Abroad

As unfortunate as this situation is, students will need to be self-directed, making use of the Embassy and/or consular resources in the country in which the event occurred. It should be noted that the emergency passport often issued by the US Department of State as a replacement for a lost/stolen passport is NOT automatically recognized by all countries, including some in the Schengen Area (France, for example). Students will therefore need to learn the most secure means of travel back to their host country/institution. Depending on that country and its respective regulations, the student's future travel may be curtailed out of necessity.

Given the fact that international rules and regulations will dictate proper procedures and future travel, students and their families should be aware that ISOS, the Office of Study Abroad, the College of the Holy Cross, and on-site staff have no ability to influence and/or change the conditions that a student may face. As gathered by the student, information provided by the US Embassy or Consul within the country(s) in question will stand as the guiding and ultimate authority. 

Recommendations to take to prevent/insure against a lost/stolen passport:

• Keep photocopies of your passport and visa (if applicable) both at home in the US and in your room abroad when you travel

• Keep photos of your passport/visa on your phone

• Always keep your passport on your person in a zipped and/or hidden pocket, especially when riding public transportation

• When traveling, always lock your passport in a hotel safe, if available

• Learn the rules of your host country: if you are not required to have your passport on your person when traveling internally, leave it in your room. Travel instead with your school and/or other forms of ID.

For more information about the risk of travel and student responsibilities during their study abroad term, students are strongly encouraged to re-read the Study Abroad Student Contract and Conduct Policy which they signed as a requirement for submission of their study abroad application.