Purchase 300kg of maize and get it shilled so that it can be used by Chimteka II in our school feeding program twice per week.

Health
Considering the possibilities for Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) of households to reduce the transmission of malaria during the rainy season months of November to April
When used in conjunction with mosquito nets in a framework known as Integrated Vector Management IRS has been shown to significantly reduce malaria cases and therefore reduce childhood mortality.
The recommended product is Fendona (BASF), it costs 7,065 Mkw per litre and the District coordinator assures me that he will make a calculation on amounts based on treating approx 1000 h/holds before the end of the week. When applied correctly it can be effective for over 6 months with a long acting residual impact.

Already starting to see a small increase in malaria cases due to the early rains

Meet up with World Vision rep in Kamwendo to discuss borrowing sprayers and personal protective equipment for our program….he arrives 3 hours late (due to fuel..he says) but thinks it should be no problem if a few bits of paper with rubber stamps are supplied!

Sort out logistics for Indoor Residual spraying of Chimteka households. Those people that have already been trained in spraying will undergo a two day refresher course and we will have a community mobilization meeting with chiefs etc on Friday.

At a meeting; talk about Integrated Vector Management; 3 parts-
1. Improve capacity for diagnosis and treatment malaria
2. Use of bed nets
3. Indoor Residual Spraying
We will try and do our bit with 1 but stress how important it is to use nets and IRS in conjunction with each other.
Organize who will spray and plan on completing whole operation in 7 days-chiefs must tell community what is going to happen and stress safety of procedure.

Send Francis to collect spraying equipment from World Vision with motorcycle ambulance.

Distribution of soap Katakungwa CBCC, glad to see a large number of children attending and people are preparing to construct a new kitchen for the facility. In the afternoon conduct a meeting with Health Centre staff to discuss possible improvements to the Health Clinic (H/C). I already took dimensions of Chioshya HC using Liam’s measuring wheel. There were some interesting suggestions for change the use of certain rooms and provision of increased accommodation capacity for guardians…report to follow.

Take in Eranger m/cycle ambulance for 6000km service-still in good condition due to regular servicing but going through a lot of rear wheel spokes, tell guys to slow it down a bit especially when going around corners. Fuel problems have returned to Malawi so dependent on using the motorcycle much of the time.

Collect Orthopedic and ART outreach teams from Mchinji. Discuss with Emmanuel and Christi about the possibility of introducing a Triage system in the OPD of the HC based on a traffic light system, as we move into the malaria season it is important that those who are suffering from (especially pediatric) malaria receive rapid treatment and those who are critical are quickly referred, receive a positive response to the idea. Also would be v.useful if a major outbreak e.g. measles

Collect large amounts of drugs for the HC and 250 rapid test malaria diagnosis kits which are a very exciting development and used in conjunction with the HB machine and thermometers should lead to rapid diagnosis and identification of severity of illness.

Disability
Evelyne arrives and conducts a toy making workshop for disabled children and splits parents into groups for Community Based Rehabilitation. Groups are formed and agree to meet once a week to conduct specific exercises that will assist in the development of the disabled children and act as a good social interaction for parents facing similar issues.

Epilepsy/orthopedic outreach from Mchinji District Hospital
Unfortunately epilepsy nurse refuses to join me as she insists on undertaking a Continuous Professional Development course at the hospital instead of putting the patients first…the training no doubt comes with a monetary allowance. Eventually manage to resolve the issue and get another nurse after pulling in some heavy weight contacts.
Still upset with nurse who refused to join me for epilepsy outreach but instead of confronting her again try a different tack and buy her a live chicken……..I think the adage keep your friends close but your enemy’s closer applies here!

Water and Sanitation
The Community Lead Total Sanitation (CLTS) functions were held at Katakungwa and Liwinga villages on October 7th when Open defecation Free (ODF) status was declared.
Katakunga celebrates an Open Defecation Free (ODF) village after the building of the Pit Latrines.
The District Commissioner signs the plaque in Katakunga and there is a walk of honour with the plaque.

Liwinga also celebrates an ODF village.
Entertainers are there for the celebration.

I then call a meeting of the chiefs to discuss the ongoing ODF program in the rest of the villages and encourage them to make progress as the rains appear to be arriving early this year.

Chimteka Life
Collect Tenteleni volunteers from Mchinji; Mark and Christina assist at Health Centre and Ellie travels to the CDSS for work with the secondary school girls
Pavla continues her work with the Aids group

Large number of funerals in close vicinity to Chimteka affects our programs slightly but Pavla manages to continue her work with the HIV/AIDS group and Christina/Ellie work at the Sec School and Health Centre.

Stay in Mchinji and very luckily a fuel tanker arrives and manage to fill vehicle, the deliveries are very small (less than 3000 liters) and usually last less than 2 hours once pumping has begun
Beginning of a long weekend; Monday is Mothers day. Take the opportunity to go on a bus trip to Zomba. Travel to Chipata (Zambia) to have a wander about and generally have a very relaxing and enjoyable weekend!

Travel to Lilongwe:
* Collect balance of vita meal from feed the children
* Deliver hard copies of letters to lady in Lilongwe who donated malaria test kits last week (150)
* Discuss with Lilongwe diocesan office about extension of work permit
* Follow up Ministry of Lands Title deed application
The title deed application has been sent back to Lands Dept for Ministerial approval after alterations; will further follow up next week by phone but should be entering final phase!

Unfortunately the vehicle MZ3147 keeps conking out due to dirt in the fuel tank, and have a very long trip back to Chimteka with lots of stops to pump lifter pump etc, luckily I managed to pickup someone I recognized in Lilongwe (who is traveling to Mchinji) with mechanical experience and we manage to limp home.

Education and Recreation
In the afternoon, Christina and Ellie start putting together a small grants proposal through the Irish embassy to purchase new instruments/resources for the Chimteka Band.
They are a great tool for disseminating information messages related to health, sanitation, education etc and also they are looking at ways to allow the youth to play music and perform. A proposal was submitted to the National Aids Commission (NAC) but has limited chances of success and I believe this small project would be a good fit.

Take 7 of the CDSS girls on a trip to Musa Watu radio; these are girls who would like to follow a career in journalism, next week hospital. Great being able to show girls potential career paths and meet some positive female role models along the way….the idea of Ellie; tenteleni volunteer.

PTA meeting at Chimteka II discussing absenteeism of learners (wish it had also included teachers!), feeding program and development work. In try to emphasis the ownership of the school is with the community and (parents/guardians) they must take part in activities of the school when asked and not expect us (CCS) to bail them out. Also mention the school garden and ask what they are planning concerning growing of maize this year for the 2012/13 f/program.

The school presents me with a budget to undertake a trip they are planning with the school wildlife and environment club to a nature sanctuary.

There followed a meeting with the School Management Committee, PTA, Chiefs and teachers of Chimteka II regarding education
Start by breaking into groups and pose two questions; why do children not attend CBCC/primary and why should people send children to school. Get some interesting responses and then start to develop strategies for getting more kids to attend but also encourage adults to make use of adult education programs.
Attempt to draw some parallels with ODF and how we can make an illiteracy free zone and have 90-100 percent attendance. I also take the opportunity to ask the chiefs if it is possible to reduce other negative cultural practices e.g. excessive drinking but get a fairly negative response!

The youth perform some drama/songs they have been working on to encourage people to enroll in education

Energy
Meet ESCOM to ask about situation regarding connection of staff houses at Chioshya HC and when electricity meter will be installed at Chimteka Full Primary, apparently ESCOM have never been paid for connection of staff houses and plus there is the issue of no materials. Will take the issue up with hospital Administrator but don’t hold out much hope of any connection soon although the ESCOM manager gives his normal assurance that something will occur next week……