AFTER ten years of treating local youngsters, Dr Pat Walker swapped the corridors of the Royal Bolton Hospital for a poverty stricken facility in Malawi.
The consultant paediatrician is now back at work in Bolton, but has been deeply touched by her experiences at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre.
A lack of space in the hospital forced Dr Walker, at times, to treat 360 children in just 180 beds, with youngsters having to share bunks if they were to access treatment.
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As well as general illness, doctors were constantly battling against malnutrition, malaria and HIV.
Dr Walker, aged 49, who also works at the Halliwell Children's Hospital, said: "The facilities at the hospital were certainly very different to the UK. The pharmacy could run out of drugs and it was extremely difficult when we couldn't treat a child because we had run out of equipment or drugs.
"I would also like to thank my colleagues in Bolton for covering my workload. It was a fantastic experience."
4:00pm today
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Tycoon's medical aid for Malawi
A former US president and Scotland's best known entrepreneur have joined forces with Glasgow's hospitals to save lives in Malawi.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative aim to deliver desperately needed medical equipment.
Former US President Bill Clinton and Scots tycoon Tom Hunter created the new charitable foundation last year.
Heart monitors and operating theatre kit will be sent in coming weeks.
Sir Tom Hunter said: "This is a pragmatic and focused partnership that will undoubtedly make a significant and lasting difference to Malawi.
"We have much to do in the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative and welcome this type of partnership with open arms."
Among the hospitals that will benefit from Glasgow's aid package will be Bwaila Hospital, one of the country's main maternity facilities based in the capital city of Lilongwe, and Neno District Hospital, in the impoverished rural area of Neno.
Health Board Chairman, Professor Sir John Arbuthnott, said: "We are delighted to be able to support the people of Malawi, with whom NHSGGC already has strong links.
"Thanks to our own modernisation programme in Glasgow, we not only have the opportunity to improve services for the people of the West of Scotland but also to make a significant improvement to health services in one of Africa's most densely populated countries."
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative aim to deliver desperately needed medical equipment.
Former US President Bill Clinton and Scots tycoon Tom Hunter created the new charitable foundation last year.
Heart monitors and operating theatre kit will be sent in coming weeks.
Sir Tom Hunter said: "This is a pragmatic and focused partnership that will undoubtedly make a significant and lasting difference to Malawi.
"We have much to do in the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative and welcome this type of partnership with open arms."
Among the hospitals that will benefit from Glasgow's aid package will be Bwaila Hospital, one of the country's main maternity facilities based in the capital city of Lilongwe, and Neno District Hospital, in the impoverished rural area of Neno.
Health Board Chairman, Professor Sir John Arbuthnott, said: "We are delighted to be able to support the people of Malawi, with whom NHSGGC already has strong links.
"Thanks to our own modernisation programme in Glasgow, we not only have the opportunity to improve services for the people of the West of Scotland but also to make a significant improvement to health services in one of Africa's most densely populated countries."
‘Congolese’ on way to Malawi held in Dodoma
THE Regional Immigration Office here is holding 36 people, including 23 children suspected to be illegal immigrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The suspects, who hail from Uvira in DRC and Bujumbura, capital of Burundi, say they were on their way to Malawi to seek better life.
Dodoma Regional Immigration Officer Mary Mwankanye said the 36 suspects, who had no Malawi visas in their temporary travel documents, would be returned to Kigoma today where the Regional Immigration Officer will determine their fate.
The suspects, who were rounded up at 8.00 PM on Sunday, entered Tanzania through Kagunga border post in Kigoma region where immigration officers granted them permission to stay in Kigoma Region for periods ranging from 30 days to three months.
After reaching Kigoma the immigrants boarded a train clandestinely and disembarked in Dodoma. Dodoma Deputy Regional Police Commander Jaabir Mkomwa said yesterday that someone tipped the police about the presence of suspected foreigners in Dodoma.
The informer, Mr Mkomwa said, reported sighting curious people who spoke crude Kiswahili at Urafiki Bus stand on Iringa Road. Police investigation culminated in the arrest of the foreigners.
The group also comprised eight men and five women. Some of the suspects were entire families. Mr Mkomwa named the suspects as Malipo Mayasa (13), Benjamin Msasaa (13), Rambo Issa (14), Mussa Rusare (14) and Amon Msafiri (24).
Others were Kiza Basaza (22), Huruma Kabika (24), Mfano Mpendwa (25), Mashikura John (31), Amani Kazimoya (21), Mashengo Rabani (13), Kyiubwa Mashengo (23), Bismark Ndagu (22), Ms Emme Mashikura (13) and Mulambo Mashikura (11).
The rest were Soranje Mashikura (12), Ms Mariam Rusare (18), Ms Mafie Bahati (15), Ms Riziki Mweze (23), Erick Shadrack (5), Ms Misherine Shadrack (3), Ms Gloria Shadrack (1), Ms Safi Ruharura (21), Ms Buloze Mosla (2) and Ms Sifa Maombi (4).
Kadoo Mashongo (13), Ms Karim Mashongo (9), Kaluu Mashongo (4), Ms Mwamini Lukogo (20), David Ndagu (1), Prince Bisimwa (5), Ms Asia Manda (25), Ms Maisara Hussein (4), Karim Juma (5), Rama Hamisi (7) and Ms Martha Mlasi (8).
The suspects, who said they were traveling to Malawi through Mbeya, gave conflicting versions of the intention of their journey. While they told the police that they intended to visit relatives in Malawi, they told Immigration officers that they were refugees.
The suspects, who hail from Uvira in DRC and Bujumbura, capital of Burundi, say they were on their way to Malawi to seek better life.
Dodoma Regional Immigration Officer Mary Mwankanye said the 36 suspects, who had no Malawi visas in their temporary travel documents, would be returned to Kigoma today where the Regional Immigration Officer will determine their fate.
The suspects, who were rounded up at 8.00 PM on Sunday, entered Tanzania through Kagunga border post in Kigoma region where immigration officers granted them permission to stay in Kigoma Region for periods ranging from 30 days to three months.
After reaching Kigoma the immigrants boarded a train clandestinely and disembarked in Dodoma. Dodoma Deputy Regional Police Commander Jaabir Mkomwa said yesterday that someone tipped the police about the presence of suspected foreigners in Dodoma.
The informer, Mr Mkomwa said, reported sighting curious people who spoke crude Kiswahili at Urafiki Bus stand on Iringa Road. Police investigation culminated in the arrest of the foreigners.
The group also comprised eight men and five women. Some of the suspects were entire families. Mr Mkomwa named the suspects as Malipo Mayasa (13), Benjamin Msasaa (13), Rambo Issa (14), Mussa Rusare (14) and Amon Msafiri (24).
Others were Kiza Basaza (22), Huruma Kabika (24), Mfano Mpendwa (25), Mashikura John (31), Amani Kazimoya (21), Mashengo Rabani (13), Kyiubwa Mashengo (23), Bismark Ndagu (22), Ms Emme Mashikura (13) and Mulambo Mashikura (11).
The rest were Soranje Mashikura (12), Ms Mariam Rusare (18), Ms Mafie Bahati (15), Ms Riziki Mweze (23), Erick Shadrack (5), Ms Misherine Shadrack (3), Ms Gloria Shadrack (1), Ms Safi Ruharura (21), Ms Buloze Mosla (2) and Ms Sifa Maombi (4).
Kadoo Mashongo (13), Ms Karim Mashongo (9), Kaluu Mashongo (4), Ms Mwamini Lukogo (20), David Ndagu (1), Prince Bisimwa (5), Ms Asia Manda (25), Ms Maisara Hussein (4), Karim Juma (5), Rama Hamisi (7) and Ms Martha Mlasi (8).
The suspects, who said they were traveling to Malawi through Mbeya, gave conflicting versions of the intention of their journey. While they told the police that they intended to visit relatives in Malawi, they told Immigration officers that they were refugees.
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