Monday morning was warm but the sky was grey and cloudy. This was a good day for driving the long distance, although there was always a threat of rain. I arrived at Bwaila in Rachel’s four wheel drive at around 8.30am. Grandmother was in the nursery feeding the triplets and the midwife greeted me with ‘the other grandmother and grandfather have arrived from the village to claim the triplets’. We had never heard a word for 2 months from the other side of the family.
After an hour spent with me, Beatrix, matron, both grandmothers and the grandfather it was explained why the babies were better off at this time to go with the grandmother who had given most commitment and where there was also care in place in the village. Our first priority was the welfare of the babies. This was understood and the reasons were given as to why they had not appeared before,-money for transport and illness.

Eventually we were able to finish feeding the babies, dress them in their new clothes and settle one of them in my straw basket which I had bought for my own use. The other two would be with Beatrix and grandmother. They did look cute and were greatly admired.

We had a great send off with many of the staff and a couple of the other women helping load the car. Grandmothers basin tied up with her chitenge, a mattress I had bought in the morning, a flask of made up milk for the next feed and all the nappies and bits I had bought the week before. We then had two large boxes of formula feed on the front seat. We said our goodbyes and got a big wave from everyone including the other side of the family. I had given them 2000kwatcha (£8) for their bus fare home and the hospital was going to feed them.

I am delighted to say the drive was uneventful and we arrived at the village two hours later, after having popped into the clinic on our way to say hello.

We receive a wonderful reception in the village. There must have been around 50 people, even a few men, which included the triplet’s father who had never made an appearance before now. There were many hands to help unload the car and many children watching with wonder. The new mud hut had two windows cut out and it had all been well brushed. As the babies were beginning to stir we all sat down and everyone who could squash into the hut watched as Beatrix talked through how to cup feed.
I fed and changed nappies and then when the babies were settled we all went outside. We sat on the new mat and Beatrix again explained to the women and men how to make up the feeds.
It was all a great success and granny was just delighted and very appreciative. I had sweets for the children which of course they loved and luckily just as we were leaving the heavens opened.
We left in a hurry but not without some pumpkins and beans in the boot - no chickens this time!
The nurse from the clinic would be out to see the babies in a few days and Beatrix would phone and check on their weights and how they were doing. I plan to go back to see the triplets in May.

After all this time I did write down the babies names which are ‘Chimwemwe’ which means happiness, ‘Mtendere’ means peace and Chisomo means grace.
I do hope and pray these wee girls have a chance of a happy and healthy life. Being with their own family in their own environment with obvious love and care is a good start.

Labour ward on Tuesday and the most frustrating thing that day was that the one shower in the labour ward that was used by the women to wash themselves and their clothes had blocked. It was ankle deep in bloody, disgusting water. The plumber could not be contacted which was not surprising as it was a public holiday and this was Malawi. We tried various avenues and I even phoned my husband Iain who was on site for help. He did his best and it was done but I don’t know how long this took as I was off duty by then.

I visited an orphanage this week run by the Mother Theresa nuns. I also had some formula milk to give them. Mother Superior whose name was Linda, visits villages every two weeks and brings back orphans who are ill and malnourished. There are 75 babies and children under 4years in the orphanage and the aim is to return them to the village when they are 4years old and thrieving.

The children are amazing and want lots of attention, cuddles and love. They clung to me and I had four climbing all over me just for touch and cuddles. I will go at least once a week to see them and plan to go with Mother Superior in two weeks time to a village in a very deprived area. Where are the feeding stations I ask myself?

I had a visit to the village to see baby David this week and am pleased to report back he has put on 4 grams in weight and his eyes are still clear. However his grandmother has a weeping eye now. I will try and get treatment for next week. There is another older lady in the village who always complains to me of aches and pains in her joints. I keep tablets in my bag and give her a few to do her a few days. I put them in a small plastic bag that has drawings of the sun rising and setting and tick when she should have them.

We spoke to the Deputy Chief of the village, a young educated man called Mr Abraham and I asked through Beatrix if I could come back next week and speak to the women about pregnancy and labour. He was very pleased and said yes. He gathered the women around who were there and Beatrix interpreted as I spoke and explained what I was going to do.
They were really happy and I asked if they could tell their friends in the nearby village I would be back next Wednesday in the morning. I also said I would answer any questions or concerns they had.
As I got up from the mat, which we had placed under the trees for shade, one woman approached me and explained she had abdominal pain. We went into a nearby hut so we could talk in private. After asking her some relevant questions and examining her abdomen I discovering she had had this pain for over a year but it was getting worse. When I went outside again I found 5 more women lining up to talk to me about their aliments. I felt relieved that I was able to say I had two doctors visiting me from Scotland soon and I would ask them to come for a visit and perhaps do a clinic session.
I can listen, advise the obvious but I am not a doctor.

Finally, this week has been a very busy one for Rachel. Mary Donohoe, the president of The Rose Project was in Lilongwe and many meetings were set up.Mary was here to see the progress of the new Bwaila District Hospital which they are funding and to campaign for more midwives. Rachel was with her all the way along, having worked in Bwaila for a year therefore being able to use her knowledge and understanding of the hospital and staff situation. Mary and I also talked regarding the future and how’ MUMs Recipes’ (The Linda McDonald Charitable Trust) can help.
There will be many changes but there still needs to be realisation, leadership and commitment from the right people.