Report-March 2010, John Harrison
Monday 1st March The DC (District Commisioner) reveals to me that the refurbishment of Chioshya clinic is being considered by the Ministry of Health and that would also include a maternity facility. This is a blow as there has been much planning by CSS to be strategic in the enactment of these changes. I have asked him to give a definitive answer on whether this refurbishment has been approved or is just a proposal/pipe dream.
Our tree planting program for this year in partnership with Sustainable Global Gardens is pending; we want goat resistant varieties and also fairly well established saplings. Purchase 1100 acacias and 100 pine @ 24,000 kw (€120). I had to count every single tree onto the truck as the seller claimed they were in blocks of 100 but the first block had only 85. A long job!! Each village will be given 50 then a few months after planting we will go and count every single one and give an award to the village with the most surviving trees.
Considering taking a 1 week AIDS testing and counseling course at Lighthouse (google lighthouse Malawi) for my own benefit, in April so gave them a call.
Wednesday 3rd
Assisting Francis prepare the standard 8 mock exam for the whole education zone. A lot of concerns about confidentiality so none of the answers are leaked!! Epic task as each paper (6) of 8 pages needs to be printed 360 times!! Good job that our huge printer donated by UNICEF is more than up too the task. The funding is provided by the Education department and I make Francis include the cost of a new print cartridge in his estimates as the cost of a new one is great. When you go into various govt dept’s, charities etc you always see dead printers as they are given with the best possible intentions but then people cannot afford or do not budget for the consumables (ink).
Thursday 4th
While collecting the ARV nurse from Mchinji, I have an idea about training our own ARV person , so there is no need to rely on District Staff from Mchinji, or we could train an HSA and keep the drugs at the hall. Francis is trained in HIV testing and counseling (HTC) and it would be good to have a one stop shop for AIDS treatment either at the CBO or the clinic. Had an informal discussion with the DHO about this and he is more than happy to establish services at the CBO or in the villages that would complement the work of the clinic.
Saturday 6th
Pick up Evelyne and her friends, Gabbi (doctor) and her biologist husband Mark.
Mark is investigating why we have such a high incidence of certain types of neurological conditions within Chimteka. The causes could be many but groundwater contamination (heavy metals etc) is a possibility. He will look for any patterns etc. He is very concerned about the standing water that gathers at the drain area of borehole pumps as they are a prime breeding area for mosquitos/malaria . We need a solution to this problem as although we are providing clean water we are potentially creating a breeding ground for mosquitos. The areas had been designed as a soak away but have become filled in with other material. Mark suggests either pumping out with our treadle pumps, chemical control (chlorine) or reducing the amount of water being wasted by kids, by putting a lock on the pump etc. It is very hard to make people realize the danger of standing water but you could actually see the mosquito larvae in the stagnant water. I think that it will be easier to address this problem when I am living in Chimteka,
Evelyne and Gabbi are working with children with head control problems.
Work is progressing well on the classrooms with all floors and walls complete and painting started. School term begins again on Monday but the kids can take lessons outside while work is finished. Keep emphasizing to the headmaster the importance of maintenance of his class blocks. Will it work……………
Monday 22nd
Completion of tree planting program; very pleased to have got 2500 trees planted before the end of the rains (2100 acacias and 400 pine). The Chimteka II School and Katakungwa CBCC have enthusiastically taken up the opportunity, great getting the kids involved in enhancing and protecting the environment.
Pickup two Canadian girls that I met last weekend who wanted to come back to Chimteka and donate learning materials to both CBCC’ s and Chimteka II Primary. They have brought the materials all the way from Canada and there are excellent pre-school books for our library and educational playing materials. All the Primary kids are given a bag containing a pen, pencil, ruler, eraser….amazing generosity!!
After dropping girls back at project, bring body of child that died of anemia back to Chimteka for funeral. Helps to focus my mind back on our planned establishment of village health facilities, in this child’s case I do not think an ambulance would have saved him as I took him to Mchinji hospital, but the parents/guardians had just left everything too late and by the time you get to give a blood transfusion it is 50:50 survivability.
Tuesday 23rd
Funeral of CBCC child takes up most of the morning, school is closed for the day as the child lived very close to the centre. Funerals in Malawi are fairly relaxed affairs with all the men sitting under trees and the ceremony is conducted by the chief and other speakers. Burial takes place in a very pleasant area of woodland and the chief says the village has lost the fruit of the future of the village and then everyone sits down for a meal.
Chimteka II has been given one new lady teacher and she will soon be followed by another male teacher. Great news as we can know split the larger classes; although these will take place outside with kids sat on the ground.
Wednesday 24th
Purchase 51 blankets with money left by Canadian girls (37,000Mkw)
Organise purchase of over 700 mosquito nets with donation of over 300,000Mkw (€1,500) from Dr Gaby; going to concentrate distribution on the under 5’s CBCC kids.
Thursday 25th
Outreach epilepsy and orthopedic clinic, but orthopedic clinical officer cannot make it. Epilepsy nurse has a large workload as more and more people come to Chimteka for diagnosis/treatment ; it is becoming a centre for outreach.
The nurse reports very positive results with many people reporting reduction or complete cessation of seizures.
Gather height information for Nico Paulin regarding his project development
Saturday 27th
The community Hall has been selected to be used for 13 days of training care givers for CBCC’S across Mchinji, by the District Assembly and UNICEF. This brings in revenue for the CBO of 340,000 Mkw (€1,700), which is a first of its kind, and the CBO have entrusted me with 200,000 Mkw to open a bank account for them next week. This is significant as it allows the CBO the opportunity to develop some programs without any outside assistance.
Evelyne and Gaby conduct a workshop on cleaning, dressing and handling disabled children. Gaby has also suggested some medication for children suffering fungal infections and ringworm that seem very prevalent at the moment.
Monday 29th
I have found a motorcycle ambulance trailer that may offer more flexibility as we would also have a motorcycle that could be used for other purposes when the trailer is disconnected. The unit has been developed by Imperial College (UK).
Tuesday 30th
The disabled group have constructed the pig khola (house) and organized a feeding regime without any outside assistance. It is hoped that the pigs will breed and the piglets will be distributed within the Parents of Disabled Children Malawi (PODCAM) group.
Friday 2nd
Take holiday until Monday-have a trip to Blantyre Malawi’s second city and commercial hub.