Possible Set Backs - But probably NOT :)

We have been receiving some news of changes taking place in Ethiopia. The US government is requiring some further treatment of the children before being permitted their US visas, especially in the area of TB. Here is what we have been told:

The third item to be addressed is TB testing. Every child being adopted is now being required (by the CDC - US agency) to have a TB test before their visa can be issued. The testing is done by the IOM - the only clinic recognized by the US Embassy in Addis. After a child's court case, they will be taken to IOM for this testing.

For children under 2, panel pediatricians will review history and physical signs to determine if a gastric aspiration is needed to obtain a sputum sample. If the culture is positive, then TB treatment will be required.

For children 2-14 years, they will all undergo a skin test (TST). If the test shows TB exposure, then a chest x-ray will be done. If the chest x-ray indicates possible TB, then a smear culture will be required. The results of the culture will determine whether treatment is necessary. We (the Embassy) expect that many children may show exposure in the TST, but hopefully few will have an irregular chest x-ray. If a culture is taken, it will take a minimum of 8 weeks to confirm a negative. After 8 weeks, the IOM will write a report on a given form stating that the child does not have TB.

For a positive result, the IOM knows the positive result in three weeks. For those children who are found to be TB positive, they will undergo 6 months of Directly Observed Therapy at IOM’s clinic in Addis Ababa before an immigrant visa will be issued.

The Embassy noted the following as additional follow-up: "We will all be working through the new TB requirements together. Please have patience and know that we will be working hard to make everything as smooth as possible for the families. Keep in mind, the 8 week culture delay is only IF a child over 2 has an exposure reading on their TST and THEN has an abnormal chest x-ray. Otherwise those children will be fine with no delays. We expect delays only in a very few number of cases. Please refrain from worrying adoptive parents with talk of widespread delays."

I don't think that this will affect us directly, since we are adopting a child under 2 years of age. However, there are plenty of other adoptive parents out there that are adopting older children. Please pray that the wait would not be long and that they (and we) would "cast all of our cares upon Him", not wasting time worrying about it. :)