Support of PM's wife is a recipe for success

THE Prime Minister's wife has personally endorsed a book of recipes which will be sold to generate funds for a Malawian children's hospital championed by Jack McConnell, the former first minister.

In the foreword to MUMs (Malawi Underprivileged Mothers) Recipes, Sarah Brown tells of her and husband Gordon's personal experience of losing a child - their firstborn, Jennifer Jane, who died after being born prematurely.

Her contribution to a cause which has been at the forefront of the Scottish political agenda, predominantly through the work of Mr McConnell, was last night welcomed by campaigners.

The book was put together by Linda McDonald, an Edinburgh midwife who worked at the city's Royal Infirmary when Mrs Brown gave birth to her two sons.

Mrs McDonald told her patient about the suffering of women and infants at Bwalia, formerly known as Bottom hospital, in Malawai.

There, Mrs Brown learned, mothers give birth without painkillers and one woman dies every week. Premature children are strapped to their mother's body in a desperate bid to save them without incubators.

Mrs McDonald told Mrs Brown that she planned to raise funds to improve care with her own recipe book. Her first publication raised more than £100,000 and her second, which is endorsed by Mrs Brown, is due to be released this weekend.

In a moving introduction, the Prime Minister's wife, whose youngest son, James Fraser, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis a year ago, writes: "I have my own experience in losing my first child, who was born prematurely, and I understand what that means as a mother.

"I hope we can all find ways to prevent future losses for other expectant mothers. That is why I am such a champion of Linda's persistent and uplifting endeavours to bring about a better way of giving birth where it is desperately needed."

In the book, she tells of the horrific conditions women had to endure at a hospital coping with 12,000 deliveries a year with only two qualified obstetricians, poor infection control and no drugs.

Mrs Brown writes that the "fabulous" MUMs Recipes will help improve nurses' working conditions, retain midwives and attract other health professionals, adding: "MUMs Recipes is a real success story and I am very proud to be associated with the two recipe books."

Last night, Mrs McDonald, who runs the Linda McDonald Charitable Trust, a registered charity, said her former patient was "delighted" to support the project, having already written a message of support for her first book.

She added: "It was just great because she was doing it as a mum rather than the Prime Minister's wife."

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, chief executive of charity Scottish International Relief, said:

"Bottom hospital certainly needs more resources and help. It's great Mrs Brown is involved."

And Leo Williams of the Scotland Malawi Partnership added: "The more political support for these kind of things, the better. MUMs is a full member of the partnership and we are very pleased when our members get such support."

IN LIMELIGHT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS

THE new First Lady of No10 has so far avoided any of the public faux pas for which her predecessor became notorious.

The day after Tony Blair's landslide election victory in 1997, his wife, Cherie, opened the door to their Islington home, bleary-eyed and in her dressing-gown to a waiting bank of photographers. The leading lawyer continued to attract the attention of the press throughout her husband's premiership, with often outspoken views on the state of the nation and its key players.

Sarah Brown, on the other hand, has so far been notable by her absence from the public gaze. She and her husband dealt with the devastating loss of their first child, and their youngest son's cystic fibrosis diagnosis, with dignity.

A patron and supporter of numerous charities, she has opted to avoid public appearances. When her husband was Chancellor, she went as far as not attending some of his Budget speeches.

That is not to say she is not committed to him or her public position as it relates to him.

Previously a public relations chief, with clients including the Victoria and Albert Museum and The New Statesman, she gave it all up to be Mrs Brown full time.