All,

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about Programme & Development Control Service Centres (PCSC and DCSC) fundraising efforts.

Please sponsor us for a 24hr fast on Tuesday 22^nd June, where for the duration of the day:

- Will forego the 3 main meals of the day

- Only drink water for sustenance

- Pledge the money saved from food and drink to the charity

Please support the PCSC and DCSC teams with donations to get running water flowing to an under-funded frontline medical facility in Malawi. By getting a large number of people to donate a small amount – we will collectively ensure a water pump can be purchased and installed.

For £1,400, a contractor has been identified to conduct the work, and this will ensure the much needed repair can proceed.

Please read below for more details.

 

Ripple Africa

In March 2010, the shared service centres nominated Ripple Africa to partner for the year to fundraise and support.  Ripple Africa are primarily based in Malawi, with a vision to develop sustainable improvements in education, healthcare and environmental projects. 

 

Kachere Health Centre Microscope Delivered

In April, Faraz Danish from DCSC donated a microscope which was delivered and installed in  Kachere Health Centre, which caters for about 18,000 people. Currently, there are two nurses and a medical assistant. The health centre is Government run and comprises a general out-patients clinic, ante- and post-natal clinics, and a clinic for children under five years old. There is also a VCT (Voluntary Counselling and Testing for HIV/AIDS) clinic. Although all medical care in Malawi is free, there can often be shortages of drugs, dressings and basic equipment.

Following Faraz's donation (see the photo above for the microscope being handed over to staff) the health centre is able to test for Malaria onsite – which is already leading to the diagnoses of malaria.

 

Kachere Health Centre needs running water

Since November 2008, Kachere Health Centre in The Northern district of Nkhata Bay in Malawi has been deprived of running water. A water system was installed four years ago, but unfortunately the water pump that served the centre was hit by lightning and is now deemed irreparable.  Litres of water now have to be pumped at a bore-hole and taken to the centre manually.  Carrying vast amounts of water is laborious and time consuming and this consequentially leads to less time being spent with the patients. 

 

For just £1,400, the water pump can be replaced and running water restored to the building.  This will both improve quality of patient care - but ultimately save lives and lead directly to disease prevention.

 

See the photo above of a 5 minute old new born baby; delivered in the Health Centre with the blue water butt in the background being the only source of water in the room.  This is reliant on an auxilary nurse – Joyce – taking time from her role providing frontline services to dedicate her time to filling the numerous butts in the building.

When asked about the lack of running water at the facility, Doctor Jennifer Murray (who is a short-term UK volunteer at the health centre) states:

“Women in the postnatal ward have inadequate facilities for washing themselves, sheets, or their new born babies. Having running water would promote good hand hygiene and therefore reduce the spread of infections within the health centre.”

Running water is also essential for TB testing.  It is part of the staining process whereby water has to be PH neutral as part of the slide preparation.  Until a water pump is installed, people suspected to have TB will have to travel 30KM to the nearest hospital – and as this is costly, most are not in a position to do this so will not be able to get treatment.

Without the use of running water, fresh drinking water is not an option and because of this many people are often found to be dehydrated. Plants cannot be watered, and the one ‘flushing’ toilet which is considered to be a ‘luxury’ is permanently ‘NOT IN USE’ as there is no sanitation.

In addition to such frustrations, Joyce – the woman who is currently responsible for carrying water (she is officially an auxiliary nurse) is now five months pregnant. She is finding it very hard to keep up with the work so water is not being taken up to the centre on a daily basis. Subsequently, the water that is being used is sometimes stagnant.

  

Just Giving

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now!