Itchy critters: Preparing volunteer travelers for head lice infestation

[Extract] Dear Editor, A previous TMAID publication highlighted the spread of ectoparasites in confined conditions [1], a situation that often also applies to short and long-term travellers, including volunteers. One of the most unpleasant tasks of a volunteer sending organization involves premature re-call. While accidents or illness are not entirely preventable, the re-call of volunteers who suddenly cannot cope being away from family or pets, dislike local food or living arrangements, experience a clash between imagined and actual reality, or believe that the whole plan was a bad idea after all, create not only avoidable costs to and ill will from the agency. Such events damage guest-host relationships at a personal and organizational level, leaving the host community bewildered and disappointed.