I contact the paediatric department and offer the luggage space.   The shopping list they come back with is not at all what I had expected.   Antibiotic and antiviral drugs yes but the rest seems very basic. Digital thermometers, for all staff to carry in a pocket Needles and syringes Urine testing dipstix Some recent editions of the British National Formulary for Children What shocks me more is the request for scissors, the sort that we would normally throw away after single use for a minor op, they will re-sterilise and use again. I’m doubtful about the request for potassium permanganate crystals to make up into solution; this can be explosive so I’m not convinced that in these days of heightened security, it’d be a good idea! They would also like good quality bright clothing for young children.   Malawian mums don’t do pastel shades; I know

Life can be very odd.   We live in leafy Kenilworth, population approximately 25,000.   My recently retired husband, Dave, went on a walk with U3A.   There were 6 people on it, three of whom were retired pharmacists and one was the associate professor for the School of Pharmacy in Blantyre! Dave arranges for his new friend and wife to come round for a chat about Blantyre and the hospital etc. Happily for me and our marriage, the couple wax so lyrically about Blantyre, and are able to put me in contact with people there.   The ex professor emphasises the importance of how beneficial it will be to the pharmacists out there to take an interest in their work, and how motivational this could be.   Apparently pharmacy is not thought of as quite the same valued profession as it is in this country, or it wasn’t when

The April newsletter on the Friends of Sick Children in Malawi (FOSCiM) website makes salutary reading.   It gives a comparison of UK to Malawi statistics.   Although improving they still make heart-breaking reading.   From the newsletter:   The figures for child mortality under one – For every child under one in the UK that dies ELEVEN die in Malawi I have every reason to be grateful to the NHS for the care I received when giving birth to our two girls.   I’m quite sure that had I been a mum in Malawi I would have experienced the heartbreak of either a stillbirth or handicapped chid due to complications.   I, myself, may well have died.   The figures for under five year olds make even worse reading – for every child under 5 in the UK that dies FOURTEEN die in Malawi. I cannot comprehend what it

Where the heck is Malawi?   The way my husband is behaving you’d think it was the back of beyond and that he’ll be waving me off a la Paddington with a marmalade sandwich in my pocket and a label attached to my coat!   We’ve made contact with Soroptimists there for goodness sake!   I’ll be working in the hospital, not backpacking in the wild.   They have internet, albeit not always reliable but I’m sure I’ll be fine.   He’s really not happy with my proposed mini – VSO trip; apparently I’m not supposed to spend the money from his Mum this way.   We watch Comic Relief and this doesn’t help.   He feels that, if I must, I should just give the money to the Friends of Sick Children in Malawi and let them decide what will help.   Our two daughters are most bemused; they can’t understand

OUR PRESIDENT ELECT PUTS THE IDEA TO CLUB AND I HATCH A PLAN. I’ve never done VSO, this might be my chance to do a mini version.   My New Year’s resolution is to do things now rather than wait until I retire. I contact Gordon from Friends of Sick Children in Malawi to explore whether it is feasible.    I’m a pharmacist so my plan is to help in the dispensary of the hospital pharmacy.    My luggage allowance is 2 x 23kg plus 12kg for cabin so maybe I could use some of it to take supplies out. He puts me in touch with various people in Blantyre at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and the Nursing School.    Email doesn’t seem to be easy; I either get a reply straight away or not at all.   It’s not helped by emails disappearing into my spam box, which

  OUR PRESIDENT ELECT SOWS THESEED OF AN IDEA FOR BOTH OF US. We’ve hit our target of £2000 in one year instead of two to train a paediatric nurse, and at the dinner meeting I enjoy the update from Alexis and Gordon Cowie, trustees of the charity Friends of Sick Children in Malawi (www.friendsofsickchildreninmalawi.org). I’m really impressed with the work being done, not least with the information that 99.7pence in every pound goes directly to the projects we have sponsored.    It’s always great to hear about the paediatric nurses we have supported, we began back in 2013 and the reports have encouraged Club and successive Presidents to continue this as our International charity. President Elect Elaine whispers to me ‘wouldn’t it be great to actually go out there’.   I agree – it’s an interesting idea but am I up for this? Dave, my husband, decides