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What Aid to Take and Why

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Please contact your state aid advisor when…

  1. You are allocated - for updates on what aid is needed both at Koala and other places in Ethiopia you may like to assist.
  2. If you are waiting for allocation and would like to start gathering aid to take with you or for your state’s stash.
  3. If you do not have a file over yet, or already have your children, but would like to donate an item to build up your state aid stash for travelling parents to take with them (ie a can of formula, tube of paw paw ointment, nappies, bottles, baby vitamins, Panadol, worming tablets, hand cleaning gel, Eucalyptus oil, Milton’s tablets, plastic pants for babies).  Please check with your aid advisor to see what they would like donated if you would like to be involved in this way. 

 

If you do take aid from the stash please consider making a financial donation of what ever amount is right for you to the AACASA aid or formula fund through our AACASA treasurer or post to the AACASA mail box with a letter explaining what it is for attached.  This donation can be specified for use for your particular state’s aid stash.

If anyone is interested in fund raising for formula and aid for your state or national aid stash, please contact our fundraising coordinator, as we would love your assistance.

 

If you’re about to travel

  1. For those of you preparing for travel, when you are organising your flights, please remember to ask your travel agent or airline if you can have a 10kg aid allowance per adult ticket in addition to your normal baggage allowance.
  2. 10kg is the usual amount an airline will give you as free aid excess baggage per adult.  Some airlines will let you take more, but in every case, it is the traveller’s responsibility to contact your airline of travel agent and find out how much you can take so that you can decide what you can carry.  Once you know what you are allowed to carry, look at the Care Package list and the updated needs that your aid advisor has for you, then prioritise the most needed items and take other aid only if you have the space.  Don’t feel you must take absolutely everything.  What you have but you can’t carry will be appreciated by your states aid stash for the next travelling parent.
  3. The specifically requested formula’s (S26LF, pepti-junior and others requested at different times) are always a high priority and are always needed.
  1. Aid is normally purchased and organised by the travelling parent.  However, because the post-allocation and pre-travel period is one where many people are overwhelmed emotionally, physically and financially, aid advisors in most states are assisting you through coordinating donations to assist you to take.   However, getting aid together is not the aid advisor’s responsibility.
  2. Please try and donate to the ‘AACASA aid fund’ via the treasurer if you take goods from the AACASA aid stash so we can continue to purchase goods in bulk and send urgent and expensive items as needed. 
  3. We understand that everyone’s financial situation is different and if you can not afford to make a donation or buy lots of stuff, you should not feel bad about that.  Aid is a gift!
  4. Likewise, if your airline won’t let you have lots of excess baggage, take what you can and don’t feel bad about what you can’t take. 

 

 

Reasons for taking aid with you

  1. If every adult carries 10kg (airline permitting) of aid baggage, a constant flow of needed items gets over. Aim for 10kg each adult and anything else is a bonus and is only to be done if you and your airline are happy about it.
  2. Even if you are picking up an older child, please still try to carry some formula because happy babies without reflux or upset tummies from lactose intolerance etc., makes a nicer atmosphere for all the kids.
  3. Supplying specialised formula’s that can’t be purchased in Addis makes a big difference to the sick or low weight babies.  Evidently a huge percentage of orphaned African babies are lactose intolerant.
  4. Taking formula and medicines to places other than Koala assists babies and children who are exceedingly disadvantaged and is a small way we can give back something to a country who has blessed us by allowing us to parent some of its children.
  5. Some medications which make a huge difference to the health, and sometimes even survival, of children in Koala and elsewhere can not be obtained in Addis.  Other medications can be purchased but are very expensive, or are not easily found.
  6. Replacing some of what our children use helps keep costs down, because some children through illness or delays in processing adoptions use far more than what foster fees could cover.  

 

 

 

Care Package for children 0 - 2 years...

   

Care Package for children 2 years and older...

Please note... To keep the entire Foster Home running efficiently with all children receiving adequate care we ask that those adopting older children assist by carrying formula. 

 

 

Health Facilities and Carrying Medicine in Addis Ababa

This is from the US depart of state travel advice site

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION:  Health facilities are limited in Addis Ababa and completely inadequate outside the capital.  Although physicians are generally well trained, even the best hospitals in Addis Ababa suffer from inadequate facilities, antiquated equipment, and shortages of supplies (particularly medicine). Emergency assistance is limited.  Travellers must carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventive medicines, as well as a doctor's note describing the medication.  If the quantity of drugs exceeds that which would be expected for personal use, a permit from the Ministry of Health is required.

 

 

 

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