What Aid to Take and Why On this page... . When to contact your State Aid Advisor . If you're about to travel . Reasons for taking aid with you . What is most needed to be donated? . Care Package for children 0 to 2 years . Care package for children aged 2 years and older . Health facilities and carrying medicine in Ethiopia

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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 (Gaylene) 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 Kerrie-Ann, 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. If you need an AACASA letterhead letter to show the airline why you want to carry aid, I or your state aid advisor can write you one. But you need to chase this up if you need it.
4. OPAL pharmaceuticals which can be purchased by parents by contacting Kate (OPAL) for a weight and price of your choosing are a fantastic help.
5. 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 (including OPAL packs) 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. This is the aim. Some people have been able to take much more over the recent months with airlines being kind and parents being very generous, and this was fantastic because there were no travelling parents for an extended time and lots of things were needed, but this is not expected of anyone and if you do want to do that, check with your airline first. So 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. Package members have a reduced foster fee because we assist with aid.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

What is most needed to be Donated?

You can donate to your state aid stash for the next parent to take over with them. Perhaps just throw one item into your supermarket trolley once a month so it doesn’t put a financial strain on you, but it will make a significant difference to the aid stash available to travelling parents if a number of people do this.

This list will be adjusted in accordance with the wishes of Lakew and Misrak. Other goods may need to be carried at particular times; therefore parents will need to keep in contact with their Aid advisor and check the 'Latest List of Aid Needed'.

Care Package for children 0 - 2 years...

• 16 cans of S26 LF (Lactose Free) Formula OR Infasoy 6 months+
• 3 baby bottles (NOT Avent)
• 6 bottle teats (assorted flow/ shape)
• 2 bottles of infant paracetamol
• 1 bottle of Pentavite
• 1 packet of Pedialyte
• 1 tub/ bottle of Sorbolene or 1 tube of nappy cream
• 1 tube of bonjela (teething gel)
• 2 tubes of paw paw ointment
• 1 bottle of eucalyptus oil
• 1 tube of anti-fungal cream (Canesten/ Daktarin)
• 12 cloth nappies (towelling OR flannelette)
• 2 packets of nappy liners
• 1 packet of nappy pins
• 5 cotton covered, Velcro fastening pilchers
• 1 packet small or medium non-sterile gloves
• 2 polar fleece cot blankets
• 5 Bonds suits (size 00-1) or leggings with cardigans (size 00-2)
• 5 singlets
• 2 sweat knit jumpers or cardigans (not knitted)
• 5 bibs
• 2 hats (beanie style)
• 5 pairs of non-slip socks or ‘first walker shoes’
• 1 pack of Disposable nappies
• 3 plastic pants size 0-2

Care Package for children 2 years and older...

• 5 to 10kg box from OPAL
  contents to include prescription medicines and special needs formulas like Pepti-Junior and Neocate.
  The Aid Coordinator will continue to liaise with OPAL, the Foster Home, and
  a Paediatric advisor to ensure that the contents of these boxes will meet the needs of the children
• 2 cans of S26 LF (lactose free formula) OR Infasoy
• 2 900g cans of a toddler formula called ‘Digestelact Low Lactose’ milk powder by Sharpe (may now be called Nutricia Karicare)
• 2 tubes of paw paw ointment
• 1 large bottle of Dettol or eucalyptus oil
• 1 large box of band-aids
• 1 packet of cotton balls
• 1 bottle of Medicated Shampoo (Selsun or lice treatment)
• 1 large bottle of Antiseptic Hand and Body wash (eg. Hibiclens)
• 3 t-shirts
• 3 sweat-knit jumpers or cardigans
• 3 singlets
• 5 pairs of undies/ training pants for 2-3year olds
• 5 pairs of socks
• 2 pairs of trackpants/ jeans
• 1 pair of shorts/ 1 skirt
• 2 sets of pyjamas
• 2 pairs of closed in shoes with easy fastenings
• A combination of the following: pencils, exercise books, board books, balls, sturdy toys, sheets, aprons, etc.

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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