NEWS
MAY 2006 - I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MY EXPERIENCE IN MALAWI AND TO SEE FOR MYSELF THE PROBLEMS, BUT AWARE THAT I WAS GOING TO BE A VISITOR IN A VERY PRIVATE ENVIRONMENT.
Bottom Hospital is a government run hospital for the very poor which is the social status for the majority of the population in Malawi delivering around 11,500 women per year which is almost double the number who deliver in Simpson's.
When first walking into Bottom Hospital you are aware of the horrendous smell. I can't really describe it, I have never smelt anything like it before and I have smelt some smells. The grounds around the building have pregnant women, children and guardians (these are the women who come with the expectant mother and help her during the early stages of labour and post delivery) camping, cooking and lying around, waiting. The hospital has dark corridors, with women queuing to be seen standing or lying on the ground. Iain and I met with the staff who knew we were coming and we talked about what we could do while we were there for two weeks.
Iain painted the special care nursery and replaced 22 strip lights. I helped paint and assisted in labour ward. That was an eye opener!
There is no pain relief in labour and sometimes no pethidine for post caesarean section patients. The women deliver on a bed with no sheets, pillows, towels, no hot water, nappies or sanitary products and very little if any privacy or dignity. They lie on a plastic sheet the same as our black bin bags with a piece of brightly coloured cotton material (chitenjes) on top. That is all there is to absorb body fluids, clean themselves and to dry and wrap babies. Gloves are worn permanently remembering that 40% of Malawians are H.I.V. positive.
The midwife I helped was from America and could speak a little of the language Chichewa. It was wonderful to watch her work so independently, performing kiwi extractions and just getting on with very little basic equipment. We take so much for granted here, paper towels and swabs at the ready!
I bought a fridge for the stillbirths. They were usually kept on racks in the sluice. We became quite used to seeing dead babies, often a daily occurrence.
I also bought a new kettle for the staff with the Mums Recipe money, their one had broken and it would cost two weeks wages for someone to buy.
It was great to be there and see the problems and the logistics of helping directly. We have now got contacts and with the help of email, I never thought I would be able to use a computer, we can keep in touch.
Trip to Malawi in May with Mary Donohoe from the Rose Project to see first hand the progress in Malawi and where our money is being and will be spent.
Summer – First newsletter, 30.000 being printed and distributed.
Community quilt being made over the summer by the friends of ‘MUMs’ for the two new hospitals and Wellness Centre titled ‘From Scotland with Love’
MUMs 2009 calendar with professional photographs of mums and babies in Bwaila, 10,000 only being printed. Available from Mid October 2008.
2009
January
Linda and Iain leave for a 6 month stay in Lilongwe to work in the hospital.
Concert in April 2007 with guest of honour Dr Tarek Meguid from Bwaila Hospital, click on programme cover and short summery of acts , profit made £15,000.
Money going--- see part one in book two.
November 7th - Book two is launched at the Merchants Hall with reception and guests who included Jack McConnell, Stephen Jardine and Lydia Ensor from the Rose Project in Dublin.
£800 was raised at a silent auction for the original watercolours by Sally McDonald painted for the Mum Recipe Calendar 2007
November 14th - Dumfries Book Two launch and presentation.
November 22nd- Dalkeith coffee morning and presentation with book buying and signing.
December 5th and 6th – Stall at Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters, Gogarburn
December 11th- 23rd- - Stall at the Gyle shopping centre outside Marks and Spencer to sell books. Made £11,000 and signed lots of books.