From Malawi...with love

ORMER Chard community nurse Claire Bowie has again thanked everyone for their support of an HIV/-AIDS project in Malawi.

Each year Claire likes to put a big thank-you in the News to all those local people who have donated money to help with her continued work in the poverty-ridden African nation.

Claire said it had been another busy 12 months in which the Malawi project has grown to start initiatives in four more large townships where she has helped train more nurses, health assistants and volunteers to care for the chronically sick.


"Our number of registered patients is in the region of 1,000, illustrating the need for community support," she said.

"HIV/AIDS continues to devastate the country, al-though evidence suggests the incidence has peaked.

"The young are always the worst affected, leaving huge numbers of single parent families, over burdened grandparents, orphans and child-headed households."

Claire said her annual ret-urn to England each year was a "salutary reminder" of how poor and in need the people of Malawi are.

Some 65% of the population of Malawi live below the poverty line, life expectancy is 37 and malnutrition is common in children.

"When you live on less than 50p a day it's a luxury to own a bicycle or radio, or to eat more than twice a day," she said.

"Yet the people retain a common dignity, courtesy and cheerfulness which I find inspiring and humbling."

Claire would like to thank everyone for their continued interest and support, especially Helen Ridgers and the staff and patients at Essex House and Tawstock Medical Centres, Chard Rotary Club, Lloyds Pharmacy, Wadeford Isle Group, and all her family and friends who have contributed so generously over the past year.

She said: "Every donation helps enormously to alleviate suffering and strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS.

"It's an uphill struggle, but so worthwhile and appreciated."