A
female
 ,
anonymous
writes:I'm going away on a trip to Africa next week to help in an orphanage, with 98% of the children there HIV/AIDS carriers, there.I was just wondering if anyone has any tips in helping me pack, prepare, and how to deal with what i'm going to see there.Thanks,x Reply to this Question |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
female
reader, Ask oldersister  + ♥, writes (19 March 2008):
 I did this in Mexico awhile back but the orphans didn't have AIDS. Make sure you go to your Dr. and get a supply of antibiotics, Tumms, I bought iodine to sterilize the water, and also get your immunization shots updated. Make sure to have the number to the US Embassy over there in case of any emergencies. Pack light, you will be surprised at how much you don't need.
Also, it will be very difficult to work with these kids. One thing I wasn't prepared for was on top of their illnesses and conditions, some harbored a lot of anger at being abandoned and were quite abusive- that surprised me. You'll get attached to them too and it will be hard both ways when you have to leave. Because of that very thing, my cousin ended up staying in Africa for 10 yrs and joined the tribe she worked with which is quite unusual. She only ended up coming back because of a foot infection.
I think it's going to be a very rewarding journey for you and congratulations on your decision to do this. It really puts things in perspective, all the problems we think we have.
A
female
reader, Annalisa + ♥, writes (19 March 2008):
 God be with you, He's certainly proud of you already!
Be careful, of course, about avoiding contact with blood around affected people and try to concentrate on the job at hand.
It will be a very emotional experience, so maybe lots of tissues to dry up tears might be handy!
Make sure you go to the doctor for jabs against things like malaria and other viruses you might be exposed to.
I can't be much help, here, but I just wanted to say I'm proud of you!
I wish I had the courage to go when I wanted to.
Good luck!
...............................
A
reader, anonymous, writes (19 March 2008): Hi, firstly wow.....what a fantastic thing to be doing for the kids, secondly although you dont want to treat them any differently if they are infected with AIDs or HIV you must be aware that your own health is at risk and as of yet, it is incurable. So the main thing is wearing gloves if you are dealing with cuts and sores and being careful around syringes and other medical instruments that may have been in contact with any bodily fluid.
Apart from protecting yourself, they are just kids, how you react around them will all come naturally. As for preparing yourself, this is very difficult, even more so when it is children you are working with. Try not to feel sorry for them, there lifestyle is completely normal to them, they dont feel sorry for themselves, they simply get on with it. They live with the cards they are dealt. My friend says if she went again she would fill a suitcase with lots os simple wooden toys as the children she worked with had nothing but a ball to play with, so that might be something you would like to do.
Take a camera, you will beable to look back of pics in years to come and think about what a wonderful thing you have done.
...............................
A
female
reader, superhoopschick +, writes (19 March 2008):
 bring a water filter... i knw someone that lived there. Um, its alot different depending on the part of africa u go to. Some areas are good and others are just horrible. some people are really nice while others are mean. Crazy drivers for cars, lol. umm..yea, umm..really depends where you're going. not every single person is practically infected, but it is just easier to get infected there because the disease is more common there.
...............................
|
