Costs Nothing

COSTS NOTHING

It costs nothing to lend a helping hand, costs more to mend a hand

It costs nothing to forgive, costs more to have a spirit of not forgiving

It costs nothing to say am sorry, costs more to hold bitterness and anger in the heart

It costs nothing to show love and tenderness when it’s required, costs more to mend broken hearts

Therefore, in the twenty-four hours of life that we are given each day,

Let us use it wisely; showing love, tenderness

And always being ready to say I am sorry;

And forgive one another

For no man is immune to pain; suffering comes to all, rich and poor

For it is only the fool who says in his heart I am immune from pain and suffering,

However, there comes a day when even the fool comes face to face with pain and suffering

After visiting the orphanage in Kawale, Lilongwe 4/10/13, I was inspired to write this poem.

Catherine Sekwalor 5^th October 2013

A Personal Project (Making a difference)

Missionaries of Charity Orphanage - Kawale

A Personal Project (Making a difference)

Latest project to support Malawian orphans, a project, which, is very much close to my heart. For a number of years I have thought of doing something for orphans, but the opportunity till now has not let itself for me to do something positive. During a visit to Ghana, in 2008, on the recommendation of a pastor, I visited an orphanage in Accra. Following that experience I have been thinking along the lines of doing something, make a difference in the lives of children who in many cases have no one only the carers whom they look to as parents/guardians.

 Here I am again in Malawi, thinking about orphans yet again and what to do, and how to help our orphans around the global village. Some of the ideas that have come to mind have been should I support a child through education or adopt a child? Radical thinking, this is something that has been weighing heavily both on my heart and mind whether to or not to adopt a child for a number of years. The big question currently weighing again heavily on my mind this time round; do I really want to raise another child on my own, and can I? This requires much wisdom, I know I can do it if I apply my mind to it, but do I really want to? My heart says yes, the mind says, “ah! Too hard, too difficult”!  Not an easy decision to make right now, I am talking about a life of a child, someone else’s child, who sadly has lost everything and already in a vulnerable state of mind. No matter how well meaningful or intended, the gesture is. Things can happen which can throw the well-intended humanitarian effort into another life of misery for this child. The jury is still out on this. 

  I am currently supporting a Malawian child with his education, and a church initiative, a scholarship program for children. The objective behind the program is to help and support a number of children in Malawi to have a decent education.  The current education rate in Malawi is extremely low.   Not more than 70% or less of the Malawian population is educated.  The low end of the social-economic group are only educated to primary level.  Some children are fortunate enough to complete their secondary education and go on to further education, others sadly, have to leave mid-way through and find a job to support their families. A very sad life for a child, any child for that matter particularly for children in developing countries, maybe I should start campaigning free education for all globally.

Following a discussion with a colleague at the NMCM, of my intention, she immediately understood where I was coming from and wanted to help me. Amayi (madam) Charity told me of an orphanage in Lilongwe, which she had previously been involved in she kindly arranged contact and on Friday, 4^th October we went together with my departmental driver.  

The orphanage was set up by the late a congregation pioneered by Mother Theresa, (Calcutta), known by the name “Missionaries of Charity” a woman with a big heart for children.  What we saw impressed me greatly.  Orderly, clean and the children all appeared to be happy and comfortable.  The total number of children is approximately sixty. Ranging from 0 to ten years of age. All the carers are female and the only male workers are the gardener and driver. There are a few number of children for adoptions, those are the ones with no living family members. The majority have living family members; father, grandparents, aunts and uncles. The children in this category are not for adoption. I took with me gifts of essential food; Malawian stable diet of maize flour, tea, milk, sweets, rice, Sobo squash, for a start. This was a great opportunity to find out what to bring the next time. 

I have volunteered my service over the Christmas period spending few days helping out, with feeding, bathing the children and playing with them. This will be a great opportunity to decide whether I want to go down the route to adopt a child in the near future.

Finally, I wish to appeal to all my readers of this blog worldwide to support the orphans of Kawale Missionaries Charity with goodies for Christmas.  The main cause for hospital admission for these children is malaria, and in the winter months, pneumonia. There is no heating to talk of in the orphanage, an electric heater perhaps, I am not 100 per cent sure, if they even have them, heaters, but in any case, the children are often cold.

If anyone,  reading this blog, wishes to help please drop me an e-mail or can send any of the following;-

·         Baby cardigans/jumpers

·         Socks/ tights (all age range) for both boys & girls

·         Hats, gloves, baby bonnets

·         Dresses, trousers, tops etc.,

·         Blankets

·         Good toys (not broken ones please & ensure all toys are in compliance with safety standards)

·         Christmas treats, sweets

·         Books & pencils

·         Shoes/ slippers (if possible)

It will be so good to make Christmas special for these little ones too.  Let us remember Christmas is for children. Whatever one is free and able to give will be appreciated. Items do not have to be brand new, second-hand is fine.

Address:

Catherine Sekwalor C/O VSO Malawi, VSO Office, Private Bag, B300 Lilongwe 3, Malawi or Catherine sekwalor C/O Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi, Anamwino House, PO Box 30361, Lilongwe 3

E-mail:

Catherine.sekwalor@nmcm.org.mw

Or catherinesekwalor1@yahoo.co.uk

Zikomo Kwambiri (Thank you very much)

Catherine

Finally, please continue to support VSO cause by donating money to my justgive site.

Visit to Mangochi

Visit to Mangochi, Representing the Nurses Council (NMCM)

24^th to 26^th September 2013

Attended a consultative meeting in Mangochi, on behalf of Nurses Council, the trip was funded by UNICEF & Save the Children.  A three and half hour journey, stayed at a nice holiday resort ‘Sun ‘N’ Sand holiday resort for four nights.  

Subject matter: “Every Newborn Action Plan – Consultative meeting”

The Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) is a push to end preventable deaths in the newborn a roadmap for change. Focusing on the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s health, specifically addressing the newborn, to improve their well-being (health and development), and survival rate.  The Focus is on high-burden countries to gain better understanding of the issues relating to specific bottlenecks for interventions. Policymakers and program managers to take action to hasten progress prior to the target date of 2035.

The ENAP builds on the recommendations of Committing to Child Survival (CCS): A Promise Renewed for Child Survival (APR), this will contribute towards the APR target of 20 or less under-five deaths per 1,000 live births in each country by 2035. The plan is part of the recommendations of the United Nations Commission of Lifesaving Commodities for Women’s and Children’s Health, the goals for the Family Planning initiative and the United Nations Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s health.

The Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) aims to reduce neonatal deaths globally.  However, the Malawi rate of neonatal deaths is extremely high; this is because infant mortality in Malawi is not seen as a priority in comparison to maternal deaths. Maternal mortality on the other hand is a major priority, high on both the political, and health agendas. To the credit of Malawi, Malawi has successfully reduced the number of maternal deaths in the country; the figure continues to go down. This is due to the numerous government and non-government initiatives and interventions that are currently in place in Malawi.

The Newborn Action Plan (NAP) to reduce the bottleneck that cause pre-term/ neonatal deaths in Malawi, addressing the high neonatal morbidity and mortality rate, which is apparent in Malawi. The NAP also wants to alleviate and change mindset attitudes towards the death of a neonate, putting it on same the stratum as maternal deaths. The NAP will be an enormous challenge for Malawians, and will naturally confront attitudes of Malawians not only to see maternal death as a priority, but also to include the death of the newborn as one and not as two separate entities. Both should hold equal importance. Currently, neonatal deaths are lugging behind on the political agenda. The recommendations set by the United Nations (Commissions on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health), will and should in essence reduce the number of pre-term deaths in Malawi, and worldwide, particularly, in third world countries where they face numerous challenges.

Malawi’s challenge is not uncommon with many third world countries, also facing similar challenges of limited public funds, lack of resources, poor leadership, lack of essential life-saving equipments, drugs, poorly equipped hospitals, more so in the rural areas; inadequate/inexperience trained personnel to carry out the work.

The consultative meeting brought together a number of professionals; group work, presentations and final putting together an action plan for Malawi.

See photos

Maternal Health

Favourite photo promoting maternal health (chitenje)

Photos of Sitting in Shiv'ah

Photos of Malawian shiv'ah September 2013

Shiv'ah - Malawian Wake

Following a happy occasion on Friday, BBQ or Braai as we say in Chichewa, and the celebration of our neighbour’s birthday on Saturday, the occasion was marred by the news of the sudden death on Saturday night of the former Director of Examination and Registration of the NMCM, the organization of my placement.

First, I received a text message followed by a phone call.  This I thought was very considerate for the organization (my placement) to think and include me in such an occasion.

My driver picked me up  Sunday, afternoon to the house of the deceased, the deceased; the former Director of Examinations, Registration, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) department.

On arrival at the house of the deceased, I could only say wow! There must have been at least 80 to 100 people present and more on their way from the villages and surrounding areas of Lilongwe. We found mourners coming to pay their respect to the deceased and to offer their condolences to the bereaved family standing outside the gate of the house, inside the forecourt of the house a large presence of women sitting on the ground, on mats,  and some on the dirt. My driver, outside the parameters of the gate, handed me over to our secretary. The secretary took charge and led me to a spot behind the back of the house to sit with the other women; luckily, I found a place on a mat to sit. Awaiting the arrival of the coffin of the deceased from the mortuary, patiently we sat in the hot sun.

News of the arrival of the coffin created anxiety, silence and stillness. We all stood still, giving our respect as the coffin arrived at the house; I was immediately ushered inside the living room by a colleague from the NMCM. This being a death of a female, the women led the proceedings.  The men stood in the courtyard separately from the women; the only male allowed inside the house was the ‘Master of Ceremony’ (MC).

On entering the living room, most of the furniture removed and those that could not be removed, covered over with plain sheets of material. All pictures, including any sign of a mirror taken off the walls, ornaments covered over. The immediate family members, sister sat low cushions on mats placed on the tiled floor, we all sat on mats. The women and the pallbearers marked the arrival of the coffin with the singing of hymns. The pallbearers were all women. They carried the coffin from the truck into the house, a wow factor!

The African woman has such strength. An African woman should never be under estimated, though she maybe poor, facing multiple adversities in her life, she has such physical and inner strength. This physical and inner strength carries her through the many adversities and the challenges she faces daily during the course of her life. She handles herself with pride, humility and with dignity. (Women would only request to be pallbearers in honour and pay tribute to the deceased if he/she is highly respected in their community or organisation. Moreover, this is something that has crept into Malawian culture in the past ten years so I am informed).

The all women pallbearers placed the deceased coffin on the floor in the centre of the living room.  There was much wailing and crying, an emotional scene.  The mother of the deceased escorted in by her immediate relatives and friends from an inner room to sit beside the coffin. It was so heartbreaking to see her weep and weep over her loss. Worse was to follow when the upper lid coffin case was lifted just exposing her daughter’s face. How she wept, just as any mother would, grieving the loss of her child. I found the experience was unbearable to watch, seeing such an elderly woman (in her late 70s weeping for her daughter) having to endure such pain and heartache. The whole room erupted into wailing and crying. Even I at this stage got quite emotional .

After the singing of hymns and prayers said the widower together with his three young sons, other male relatives and friends entered the living room to view the body and pay final respect. Following the viewing of the deceased, we proceeded to the main gate outside the house (street level) for the final ceremony to take place.  We all sat on the ground, hard concrete including the mother of the deceased in the open with the hot day sun beating on our heads, temperature soaring 29oC plus. I was just amazed how resilient, if resilient is the correct word to use in this context to describe this situation of men and women sitting on dirt, concrete floor for hours in the hot baking sun humbly, and not complaining. I must confess I struggled; my bum went numb and apart from fighting off biting ants I was having problems concentrating as the sermon was in Chichewa.  Surprisingly enough, I understood most of what the pastor preached.  Suffice to say I no longer feel inhibited to communicate in Chichewa; it is beginning to roll off my tongue with ease! The Chichewa language almost has a Spanish/Italian flare to it. Maybe it is all the ‘Tilli & ndilli bwinos’, ah I could, however be wrong. The Italian in me like to think so!! Yet these people it is a norm, not at all phased by anything round them.

 The cemetery experience helped prepare me for this experience of sitting shiv’ah. I believe by the time I finish my placement in Malawi sitting shiv’ah or in the cemetery for long hours will also become my norm.

The women lined the route from the entrance of the living room to a table outside the front gate on which the coffin finally rested on for the final part of the ceremony.  The women on both sides passed the coffin on to other women lining both sides the route to the table. The receiving and passing of the coffin carried out in a very dignified formation and with precision. The women had such tenacity about them to honour their friend and colleague, dignifying to watch.

 Donations from individuals and organizations were read out, more prayers said and a sermon preached by the pastor. The funeral date announced, the next day, Monday, 9^th September.  The women coffin bears loaded the coffin onto an open truck to make the final journey to her home, outside Lilongwe  city for the final burial on Monday.  (I was unable to attend. I had to staff our department)

To conclude; the generosity of people is overwhelming in such a time as this. The donation of food and money received from friends, family members and neighbours, i.e. tons of cabbages, sugar and maize flour etc. Women helping with the cooking, help feed family members’ arriving from the villages is truly wonderful to see and be part of.

Area 3 United Nations BBQ Garden Party Friday, 6th September