Nursing crisis in Malawi

Malawi nursing leaders are to visit Scotland after figures revealed that two nurses are dying every month in one of the world's poorest countries, crippling an already stretched and grossly inadequate health service.

Malawi in southern Africa is struggling to cope with a critical shortage of doctors and nurses. Many leave to work in other countries or leave the profession altogether as conditions are so bad.

An evolving HIV/Aids epidemic affecting 12% of the population means there is massive strain on the health service. Forty per cent of hospital admissions are now HIV related.

Added to that, between two and three health workers a month are dying, either from exhaustion or from infections picked up from the very people they are caring for.

Dorothy Ngoma, leader of the National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi, warned that the situation will get worse unless steps are taken to improve conditions for nurses.

She said: "These nurses are working in highly infectious environments. They have no health insurance. They become sick. Many have died, two or three every month.

"We have to put pressure on the government if we want to help our colleagues. There is money for politicians if they break their little finger or sneeze. They are flown out of the country. These are the frustrations that make us angry."

Ms Ngoma is planning to travel to Scotland later in the year to raise awareness of the problems in her country.

Malawi has strong historical links with Scotland dating back to the time of David Livingstone in the 19th century.

In 2005 then First Minister Jack McConnell and and President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi signed a Co-operation Agreement that outlined key areas in which Scotland and Malawi would work together.