HOT GUYS AND GIFTS

Firstly I would like to say to all those who send comments to my blog "Thankyou" Yes I do receive them. Yes I do read them. It feels good to know that you are out there sharing with me these amazing experiences and supporting me with your love and thoughts and words.
"Keep them coming"

Its two weeks since I last wrote and many things have happened since then. Last week Linda ( from Scotland) came to visit. Linda is responsible for a small charity called MUMS ( Malawis underpriviledged mums) She/they have done amazing things in raising huge sums of money to directly support Bwaila hospital and in particular the new hospital buildings. They are also involved in other projects here in Lilongwe. MUMS is one of my sponsors who along with one other private businessman have and are making it possible for me to be here. It was good to spend time with her. Apart from having a fun time together we were also able to make some useful and rewarding contacts with others involved in our area of work. I was particulaly impressed by the director of the Nurses and Midwives Association ( who act as a trade union supporting and caring for the carers) A strong passionate woman not afraid to speak out in favour of the health workers, doing a wonderful job at local and government level to try and improve things for nurses and midwives. Looking for ways and incentives to keep these valued professionals here in Malawi. I hope to keep contact with her. It is unusual to find a Malawian of her kind , especially a woman.
I cannot let Lindas visit pass with out telling you of the ' dance ' we attended . We were invited to attend a dance with local music and including a famous Malawian singer. It was to be in aid of the 'national nurses day' to be celebrated this week. We both imagined a large hall filled with midwives and a traditional band, so we deciced it should be fun. To our amazement, when we arrived, the venue was full of young men! I mean 100 men and no more than 10 women! Why should we back out now? We took a deep breath and entered. Well it was like bees to a honey pot! Most of the guys were young enough to be our sons but what the heck ! In the absence of greater and more beautiful talent we spent the entire evening dancing with and being surrounded by young, good looking, girating, black men! It did wonders for our ego but when several hours later the drum beat started hotting up and the beer taking effect ( its amazing how even an older white woman can suddenly become very attractive to these young guys in search of free beer!) we decided it was time to leave. I became slightly worried when one guy told me that the one I had been dancing with was only a 3rd year student whilst he already had a proper job earning 100.000MK ( 500 euros) a month . Definitely time to go !

I must tell you about my little miracle baby. The one whose mother arrived with the umbilical cord prolapse and I thought would never survive. I try to follow up the mums and babies that I attend who have special needs. It is impossible to remember all of them. So on Monday morning I went straight to nursery to see how this little one was getting on. It is with some trepidation that I enter. I always fear the worst as so many of those little ones just dont make it. I couldnt find him! On asking of his whereabouts I was told that the mother and grandmother had signed his discharge against medical advice and that he had gone home on Sunday. I was determined to find out how he was, so took note of the name of his mother and the village where they lived. My opportunity came the following day. After finishing my workshop I found labour ward was quiet and one of the midwives who had attended the training was eager to accompany me. So we set out for the village. I had asked directions but after following this route down a dusty mud road for more than 6 km. and still not finding the village, we decided to go back. I was not to be beaten. Its always good to have a native Chichewa speaker to ask directions and soon we were on the right track. This took us right through the middle of a typical mud hut village where as usual I caused a stir as the children ran out to the car shouting "msungu..msungu" ( white woman)
At last we found the village and asked for the family ' Luko' We were taken to the hut and welcomed with huge smiles by the whole family who were amazed to see me. My midwife companion was able to translate as she told us the story of her journey to the hospital via the health centre . The grandmother said when she saw the cord protruding she knew that it was dangerous for the baby. The mother had talked of the white midwife who had helped and been kind to her. They knew that we had saved the life of her baby. I asked to see the baby. We were invited to enter her hut and a cane mat was spread on the floor. We took off our shoes and sat down. I had taken some gifts of fruit and vegetables but hadnt dared to take baby clothes. I half expected the little one to have died. There he was lying on the ground, round and fit and healthy. Tears came to my eyes, I really did feel that he was a miracle baby! I was asked to give the baby a name, this is quite a honour, a bit like being a god parent. One is expected to maintain an interest in that child as he grows bringing gifts and food. ( so maybe there was a ulteria motive?) Never mind, I felt proud and priveledged ! At first I thought of Lucas but Lucas Luko was not a good idea! I said I would think of a name for next time. Maybe he will be called Joseph ( son of Rachel in the bible) certainly he was a lucky guy!

On Wednesday I was invited to attend a meeting at the District Health Office. These are monthly sessions to discuss maternal mortality rates. (The rate in developed countries will be around 5-10deaths in 100.000 whereas in Malawi it can be as high as 1.800 in 100.000) Cases are presented, discussed and questioned. Positive critiscism is encouraged to try to evaluate where, why and at what level there may have been a lack of care, materiales, information etc. This evalution will be returned to the health facilities involved in an effort to reduce maternal deaths and improve care. There must have been 50 or 60 health care workers present. I think that not more than 6 made any contribution to the discussion and one of those was me! The case studies lacked vital information. The recording of care is a real problem, one never knows if it wasnt done or wasnt recorded. One of the cases was a young 14 year old girl, married and in her first pregnancy. She died of Streptococcal meningitis, an illness perfectly treatable in the developed countries. We found a delay in taking her to the health centre on the part of her family..reasons unknown. A lack of care at the health centre who did not examine her fully and did not begin treatment of any kind. They immediatly referried her to the hospital. It was not recorded as to how long it took for transport to arrive. An overnight delay in her being seen by a clinician once admited in the hospital was evident so that when correct treatment was started it was too late.
This story is not uncommon, stories like this are heard everyday somehow along the way they have become acceptable. We are not suprised but for some of us we are sad, we are frustrated, we are angry. What were her rights to health care ? To good health care ? What were her human rights? What are Human rights? Where are they in Malawi ? What do they really mean in Malawi for these poor women?
Witchcraft is very much part of Malawi. It is very much part of day to day life. Superstitions and 'traditional medicine' is often where the people go to, turning only to the health care and hospitals when that has failed. There is, nominally, a move to educate the people away from this but it is slow and not terribly effective. On discussing the second case I was surprised when no formal diagnosis or cause of death was recorded or seemed to be necessay. I suggested that if the medical profession bothered to give families a real cause of death this would make it hard to blame it on some witchcraft or bad omen or as a result of evil behaviour. This was taken down and recorded. It seems that nobody had ever thought of this before!

This weekend we are going to Dwangwa sugar plantations. It is good to get away from Lilongwe every now and again. I need this time to forget for a while, to refresh and recharge. I am grateful to the good friends I have made who make this possible.

Last big news...I have found a small, jeep type, car to buy. I hope to take possesion of it on Tuesday. It will be better for my village visits and hopefully more economical than renting.