Dear All,
Muli bwanji nonse
? translates How are you all?
I am very well, very busy since my last e-mail back in
May. Post election and Malawi is very much the same. Cash gate is very much
alive and kicking with new cashgaters in government! The donors have tighten
the purse strings and life in Malawi is not easy, in fact hard for the poor
people of Malawi.
The weather currently is beautiful and hot after a very
long winter than usual. Finally, last
week the weather changed for the better. This however, means summer may
be very short with the rains due next couple of months. This time last year we
were enjoying very, very hot summer, this time round very cold. I have found
myself going to bed with a hot water bottle in order to keep warm even my quilt
from the UK couldn't keep me warm! if I am unable to keep warm can you imagine
the poor people out there? Majority of Malawian houses are not built with
heating and very few, may have a fireplace or an aircon which can be used as a
form of heating blowing hot air. Or for the ones who can afford something
slightly cheaper an electric heating. Otherwise lots of blankets, sleeping bag
or a hot water bottle.
Life at Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi (NMCM), has been very busy and as the Continuing
Professional Development (CPD)
Advisor very busy too. In April we
conducted our licensure exams for the nurses and midwives. This is their final
exams before they are entered on to the NMCM register and given a Pin number to
legally practice as nurses and midwives.
Followed by another week of marking which took place in June. As I write this mail the examiners are here
putting together questions for the next exam which is due in October, this will
takes us to December.
My Kasungu project is going well. Travelling each month
to Kasungu to conduct CPD session with them.
It is not all plain sailing with challenges upon challenges with the group. An example, of this not wanting to have the
lunch that is provided for them, but instead have the money as a form of an
allowance. The allowance is another major problem hindering the progress of
Malawi. Everyone wants an allowance to attend a workshop or training. Other
than the challenges a great group and hope that at the end of this project
attitudes will change and the Kasungu health professionals will make a difference
to the care delivery of Kasungu district.
Last month I was in Salima, by the lake for five days,
representing Council, working with UNICEF and Save the Children International,
developing guideline for the neonate. Reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality,
the MDG 4. We worked hard, but at the
same time had the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine, the lake and eat lots of
fish.
I have purposely entitled
this mail as "I don't take it for granted my position at NMCM, the
regulatory body. In the beginning of my placement I wasn't sure what my role
entailed , all I knew I was to be the CPD Advisor, for NMCM. A year on, and now I realise my role
and the immense power of my
placement. This awareness has made me to
be mindful of what I do, the influence and the power that I have and entrusted
to me as a result of my placement with NMCM. I am proud to be part of the
regulatory board, setting standards to improve the delivery of health care to
the people.
This became more apparently with my recent trip to Ghana. An exchange trip which I initiated and
organised through funding from VSO to
learn from Ghana's CPD model. What an
experience! I never thought I would have
the opportunity of visiting Ghana, and be blessed, to celebrate my birthday in
the country of my birth but also see and be with my family.
It was refreshing to be in Ghana, enjoying the wealth and
not having to see every other car an NGO vehicle or the level of poverty as in
Malawi. We found Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana (NMC G), to be very
organised as a regulatory body and also very respected. Ghana NMC is both proactive and financial self sufficient and
not reliant on donor money to carry out CPD and other activities. The attitudes of the
nurses and midwives of Malawi is a big issue and as a result of the problem men,
women and children die needless. From what I have seen and observed I believe this to be a
systemic problem stemming from childhood to adulthood. This is unfortunate and very sad for a such a small and beautiful
country. My Director and I came away from our trip to Ghana with so much learning. I came away with a better awareness of my role
and the difference I am making/ have made so far. Our report is out and we hope
to implement some of our findings in the CPD program.
I am therefore privileged and honoured to be here in
Malawi, and to be part of the regulatory body of NMCM, working side by side
with them and making a difference to the delivery of health care in Malawi.
Despite the challenges and the
sacrifices, I'm truly enjoying being here and my placement as
well. It has indeed been a wonderful
experience all round, to dine with the poor , with the least in
society, to dining with a billionaires. Eating at the real local eating places to eating in Lilongwe's only posh restaurant.
I have good group
of friends, ranging from local to
international. What a privilege it is to be here doing what I am doing, I feel my
life has changed forever. I know for a
fact my returning back to England will not
be easy, adjusting back to western society, the stresses of daily living will be indeed be hard.
Bearing this in mind I shall be on the move again to another part of the world
doing and enjoying what I do best, making a difference to the lives of others,
the poor, and the vulnerable.
Finally, still running the afterschool/breakfast club on
Saturday. The children have become more receptive and have developed a positive attitude towards learning, taking
their education much more seriously than ever before. I wish I could provide them with more reading
material and take them out on trips.
Many of the children have not seen the lake (photo of the children). An
ex-VSO volunteer Herman was good at organising trips for the children. He is funding the education for two people, one child, a boy from the
breakfast club and my next door neighbour's gardener. They miss him loads! I plan to do the
same for at least two children from the breakfast club on my return back to the
UK. This is why I don't take for granted my role and my position here in Malawi.
This is all for now.
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