In September, my colleagues and I are travelling to Lilongwe, Malawi to make fistulas for haemodialysis.

Kidney failure is a life-limiting disease which, in the absence of transplantation, necessitates a lifetime of dialysis 3 times per week. In order receive dialysis, patients must have a fistula created. A fistula is an artificial connection between an artery and vein in the arm that is made by a surgical procedure. A fistula provides a vascular access to the patients bloodstream and allows them to "connect" to the dialysis machine.

Kamazu Central Hospital in Lilongwe is the larger of only two publicly funded dialysis units in Malawi. It provides dialysis for 65 patients with acute and chronic kidney failure. Fewer than half of these patients have a fistula. Malawi has fewer surgeons per head population than any other country in the world so provision of fistula surgery can be challenging.

My colleagues and I are travelling to Lilongwe in September to undertake surgery to create new fistulas and provide training and education to surgeons, kidney doctors and nurses in how to create and look after fistulas. Please help support us to purchase surgical instruments and other equipment needed for the trip.

I will be challenging myself to swim a kilometre everyday in August (open water) and documenting my efforts.