Christi and Francis are heading for a week long residential course on using medicinal plants and how to grow them www.anamed.net/anamed.org in Dedza which should be useful when applied.

Health and Disability
Return spraying equipment to World Vision, it was very generous of them to lend such expensive (brand new) and fragile equipment and I certainly would not have done the same under any circumstances!! Give the project manager a puppy as way of thanks…
A spraying evaluation meeting followed to discuss how the program of IRS was conducted; problems, lessons learned etc

Transport 13 orthopeadic patients for assessment and referral at 500 miles prosthetic clinic. Also take 1 cleft lip baby and a child with haematoma on lip for assessment-the child with haematoma is admitted

Disability
90 ART patients and 17 orthopedic patients were treated by the Orthopedic and ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy) outreach clinic from Mchinji Hospital. On the way back I collect a lady (Hilda) from MACOHA (Malawi Council of the Handicapped) to witness what activities we are conducting for the disabled at Chimteka

Take some patients for MAP (Malawi against Physical Disability) assessment including polio patient (Nicholas) who needs a tricycle-hand bike. Also include some other patients who require assessment and treatment from Mr Kalipindi but he is suffering from malaria-leave Nicholas.

Evelyne arrives with representatives of MACOHA and JTI to look at options for vocational training of disabled individuals.
Also representatives from the Malawi Association of the blind to discuss potential options for vocational training in the future

Chimteka Life
While in Mchinji get the 4WD on vehicle maintained as the rains mean we may need it to be engaged again soon! Replace front wheel bearings on vehicle MZ3147

UNICEF calls to enquire about progress of community based management training Journey of Life, which they support. Attempt to explain progress but still not entirely sure what it actually is…

Diesel fuel increases from 260 Mkw to 360 Mkw-Overnight! And still none available. Later manage to get some diesel but a bit shocked at how much it costs to fill tank, public transport and all basic commodities have increased by at least 20 percent yet the value of the kwacha is less than it has ever been….big problem. Later in month fuel problems seem to be easing with diesel and petrol available in Mchinji but the 40% increase has seen a big increase in the cost of basic commodities.

Last week of Tenteleni volunteers
Pavla and the Aids group have a small party with food, soft drinks etc
Ellie is given a chitenje by the school to reward her for work done and Christina assists Fortina at the clinic

Employment and Enterprise
Start preparing for the grinding mill program, will have to ensure proper structures in place for daily operation and management this time, although we have a bit of a budget shortfall as the original quote for engine was 895,000 the cost is currently 1,200,000 Mkw and increasing weekly due to the devaluation of kwacha and end of duty free status of grinding mills. Look for other grinding mill options in Lilongwe and find an engine for 1,070,000 which may be a better option.

Travel to Mchinji by motorcycle to get information relating to the grant for the maize mill engine. The price of the engine has already gone up by over 30% in the space of 3 months and is continuing to rise so rushing to get it purchased, which requires getting a letter from the bank stating that an account in the name of Chimteka Village Aids and Orphan care exists at National Bank of Malawi proves more difficult than I anticipated……directed to Lilongwe – there follows:

* Collect a new pro-forma quote for grinding mill engine
* Attempt to contact the American Embassy to discuss progress of disbursement for grant-we are against the clock as the supplier will only give us a proforma invoice valid for two weeks-it was going to be only 7 days!!
* Meet Sarah Oddo at American embassy to discuss grant progress and also by chance meet the US ambassador

On return to Chimteka collect a big load of cardboard for use of ladies who are coming to train people in Appropriate Paper Technology (furniture construction using c/board). Evelyne, Alice (O/therapist) and Titti (OT) arrive with Ruth and Wendy (Ruth-Alices Mum) to begin training on APT and undertake therapy for children.

The people attending the weekly APT training will be a mix of disabled and youth, and most of the items constructed will be known as Assistive Cardboard Equipment.
www.paperfurnitureenterprise.com
www.peoplepotential.org.uk
Evelyne, Alice and Titti leave while Ruth and Wendy will stay. Some interesting pieces of assistive furniture (for the disabled) start to take shape. Then unfortunately Wendy became unwell overnight, so I stood in to help Ruth with completion of furniture.
The APT method of construction is very interesting and cost effective but the only concern would be the complexity of the operations.
There was a presentation of certificates for those that have attended the APT course
Wendy became increasingly ill and may need to return to England for medical assistance

Hear that Benjamin “Fish” transferred to Ntcheu, slightly unfortunate as he was a great deal of help in re-starting fish farming in the area. On the way back from taking 2 sick patients to Mchinjie hospital, Mchinji head to Ludzi mission to discuss with Sister Agnes the possibility of sourcing fingerlings for 5 of our ponds.

Education and Recreation
While returning Tenteleni girls to Mchinji, I included 7 students on a career visit to Mchinji District hospital visiting; radiography, lab, pharmacy, wards etc. The hospital staff love talking about there jobs and I think they have benefited from the visits as much as girls.

Take the last group of Secondary school students on a careers visit to Mchinji Police station.

Amazed at incredibly generous donation of 2500 euros from Tim Lee who was with us for less than 5 days….but I am really glad we took him on our team building trip to the lake!!! Head for Ministry Education to ask about sourcing text books for program as suggested by Tim.
Meet Chimteka CDSS teachers to discuss the purchase of text books; titles, number etc Collect CDSS text book list ready to purchase books from Lilongwe.
Purchase text books for Secondary School with Tim Lee donation

Construction and Roads
Head for Lilongwe to meet Ministry of Land’s personnel, eventually meet Commissioner for Lands (second after Minister) and he assures me that I will have it in the afternoon or Tuesday of next week. On my return, vow I will not return without a title deed for Ministry of Education land at Chioshya (Girls hostel). After my arrival in Lilongwe at 7am, there followed a great deal of waiting around; finally manage to meet the principle Secretary for Minister and explain why we need Ministerial approval and that deadline for application is tomorrow. At 4.30 pm receive signed document and thank Minister of Lands in person - head back to Mchinji. I completed the grant application for girl’s hostel and also final touches to end of Water and Sanitation project that needs to be submitted at same time

Nutrition
Collect 400 packets of vitameal from Feed the Children-requested 650 but due to fuel shortages, forex etc etc they are suffering a shortage.

News from Board of Chimteka Children Support, Sutton, Dublin.

The grant application for the construction of a girl’s hostel to Miseain Cara was submitted this week and thanks to John's perseverance and tenacity the title deeds included; it is hard to believe that it has taken 2 years to get a document like this. Public organisations are not supporting communities that want to help themselves, even when these public organisations are paid to provide a service.

A scaled drawing of the existing clinic at Chiosya was received from John, together with the input from the leaders and chiefs of the villages as to future plans to re-organise and extend the totally inadequate area reserved for maternity care and births. This is being studied by the committee in Dublin with input from member and architect Catherine Pauline. Paul and Carol have visited here this year and can also give practical input.