More photos from Malawi...

UPDATE

Emily and I returned from a very successful research trip at the end of September (SEE PHOTOS BELOW - PREVIOUS POST). We met with people at the District Hospital and with the community in Chisala and this project is ready to move forward. We have signed agreements with everyone involved - the District Hospital will be providing the contractor and labour for the building project and will equip and maintain the hospital once built. They will also hire a Medical Assistant (Doctor) for the clinic. The community has agreed to make 250,000 bricks (and have already started!) and will provide sand and water (necessary for making cement) as well as labour when we start the project. Our job is to raise the approximately $80,000/£40,000 for the supplies! We have a long way to go but are already on our way. Please contact me if you want to help or get involved with the project!

RESEARCH TRIP PHOTOS

This is a group of expecting mothers we met while we were visiting other maternity clinics in the Nhkata Bay District. These women were staying at the guardian shelter where women and their families come and live when they are a few weeks away from giving birth. This saves them walking miles while in labour!

This group of women are listening to a speaker at the District Hospital - here they about pre-natal and ante-natal care, family planning, care for under HIV/AIDS, PMTCT (prevention of mother to child transmission) and much, much more. It is an excellent program which we will implement at the Chisala maternity clinic.

Baby weighing - this is good practice because it assures that babies are growing at the right rate. If they are not - it could mean they are sick or not getting the proper nutrition.

A young boy waits to be seen by nurses

Lunch Time! (How cute is that face?!?)

A young child and mother

Woman leaving Ante-natal Clinic

The Kawalazi Tea Plantation - this is near Chisala

The Market in Nhkata Bay

Chitenjes - this is some of the colourful fabric worn by women and used for everything from carrying babies to carrying laundry.

A woman carries her son and fire wood

Chisala - a tree grows on an ant hill

Usipa (oo-seepa)! It is sold at the market in small piles

A woman selling bananas in Nhkata Bay

A Guardian Shelter - look at all those women waiting to give birth!

A woman in Chisala makes Nsima - this is the staple food, sort of like polenta. It is a very heavy food and has almost no nutritional value - it's served with vegetables, beans, tofu pieces and sometimes meat.

Coffin Shop in Nhkata Bay

A girl we met in the street - we gave her a little plastic necklace

Meeting with the Chiefs and Village Headmen

The Village Headmen listen as we discuss plans for the Maternity Clinic

Surveying the location of the buildings

Our friends, Mr Bokosi and Mr Banda (Deputy District Health Officer) from the District Hospital - we couldn't have done our research trip with out them!

Equipment at a maternity clinic we visited

Birthing Tables

Baby Weighing Area