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Main messages

Infectious diseases

Immunisation

Ensure that all patients, especially children, are up-to-date with the UK immunisation schedule. See Immunisation collection with complete schedules.

Tuberculosis

There is a low incidence of TB in Suriname (<40 cases/100,000), so:

• routine screening for TB is not required
• consider testing in patients (including children) who show signs and symptoms
• be aware that TB is a notifiable disease

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV

There is a high rate of HIV in Suriname (>1%), so:

• offer and recommend an HIV test according to UK national testing guidelines
• consider offering an HIV test to infants and children who have recently arrived in the UK according to UK national testing guidelines

Be advised that although recent global data on STIs are not available, countries with high HIV rates tend to have higher rates of STIs, and the range of STIs encountered in Suriname may vary from those in the UK, so offer to sexually active individuals:

• a full sexual health screen
• safer sex health promotion advice by referral to local genito-urinary medicine services

Hepatitis B

Suriname has an intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B, so:

• consider screening for hepatitis B, particularly those who have recently arrived
• offer screening for hepatitis B to all pregnant women during each pregnancy
• immunise appropriately babies born to mothers who are hepatitis B positive, and follow-up accordingly
• be aware that the UK has a universal infant immunisation programme for hepatitis B聽and a selective immunisation programme for higher risk groups

Hepatitis C

Suriname has a considerably higher prevalence of hepatitis C than the UK, so .

Travel plans and advice

Ask opportunistically about any travel plans the patient may have to visit friends and relatives in their country of origin, and see , or the Health Protection Scotland websites ( and ), for travel advice.

Malaria

There is a high risk of malaria in Suriname, mainly due to P. falciparum and P. vivax., so:

• who has travelled to-and-from in the last year
• remember that malaria can be rapidly fatal

Typhoid

There is a risk of typhoid infection in Suriname, so:

• ensure that travellers to Suriname are offered typhoid immunisation and advice on prevention of enteric fever
• remember enteric fever in the differential diagnosis of illness in patients with a recent history of travel to-or-from Suriname

Helminths

There is a risk of helminth infections in Suriname, including:

• schistosomiasis
• soil transmitted helminthiasis

Chagas

There is a risk of chronic Chagas disease in migrants from Suriname, so:

• be alert for possible cases
• refer as appropriate

Women鈥檚 health

Reproductive health indicators

Reproductive health indicator	UK	Suriname
Number of children per woman鹿	2	3
Use of contraception虏	82%	41.2%

鹿lifetime average; 虏by woman of reproductive age or partner

No data are available on:

• mammography screening rates
• cervical cancer screening rates

Nutritional and metabolic concerns

Anaemia

There is a moderate risk of anaemia in adults (estimated prevalence in non-pregnant women is 20 to 40%) and pre-school children (estimated prevalence is 20 to 40%), so:

• be alert to the possibility of anaemia in recently arrived migrants, particularly women and pre-school children
• test as clinically indicated

Vitamin D

Consider the possibility of vitamin D deficiency in people who may be at risk due to:

• covering their body for cultural or religious reasons (lack of sunlight)
• skin colour
• diet (vegan or vegetarian)

Vitamin A

There is a risk of vitamin A deficiency in Suriname.

Country profile

Health indicators and health care

has a summary of health indicators and health care in Suriname.

Culture, politics and history

and provide background information on the culture, politics and history of Suriname.

Languages

The main languages used in Suriname. are:

• Dutch (official)
• English (widely spoken)
• Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others)
• Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi)
• Javanese

Source: .

Religions

Religion	Population (%)
Hindu	27.4
Protestant (predominantly Moravian)	25.2
Roman Catholic	22.8
Muslim	19.6
Indigenous beliefs	5

Source: .

Migration to the UK

There were almost 300 people from Suriname living in England and Wales at the time of the 2001 Census (no 2011 data available).

Source: .