MAHECAS Newsletter - December 2006

WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING?

In the last twelve months we received several requests for assistance from Malawi. We would have liked to support all of them unfortunately our limited funds prevented us from doing so. With your donations and help we hope to do better in the future.

£1560 for Lilongwe Maternity Bottom Hospital:

The Nursing Officer wanted assistance with equipment worth £8,000. We managed to fund only the very urgently needed equipment and sundries ie Episiotomy sets, delivery sets and gloves

£1520 for Lilongwe Hospital Paediatric Dept:

The Paediatricians wanted some urgent help with some regularly used medicines, which were unavailable from the medical stores. We were able to supply them with the majority of the medicines they requested to tie them up until the medical stores were able to supply

£1,000 For Malawi Famine Relief Fund:

MAHECAS made a donation towards the Malawi High Commission’s Famine Funds to relieve famine, which hit Malawi last year.

Medical Syringes

Lynne Bliss collected a large amount of medical syringes from her local hospitals, which she donated, to MAHECAS. The consignment was sent to Malawi and distributors to Chirumba Hospital and Lilongwe Central Hospital.

CSP Distributors Ltd Medical Donations:

The company and its Managing Director Chris Prinsloo continue to make donations of medicines, medical equipment and hospital sundries to MAHECAS. These are distributed, to various hospitals and medical Centres in Malawi. In the last year they have made several donations and also donated £500 towards the cost of Clearance Charges in Malawi.

Lilongwe Hospital Guardian Shelter Accommodation:

The Committee has allocated a further £14,000 towards this project. At their last meeting in Oct 2006 a further £3,000 was ring fenced. Now the total is £17,000. We are continuing to raise funds towards this project. If you want to know more about the project or make a donation towards it please contact the Chairman.

PROJECTS IN NEED OF SPONSORS

The following are some of the projects we were unable to support because of lack of funds. If you would like to take up and support these projects please contact the chairman

a) Malindi Mission Hospital Nurse-Midwife-Technicians (NMTs) Training:

The hospital is finding it difficult to recruit and maintain nurses and midwives because of low salaries and lack of accommodation. They would like the Hospital Attendants to be trained as NMTs. As these live locally and require no hospital accommodation they would continue working at the hospital. The course is for 3 years. The cost of training is approximately £800 per year per student.

b) HIV/AIDS WITH US: Likoma Island Project: Approx. £8,000:

The project is running but would like to construct a building where counselling, education and testing HIV/AIDS will be carried out.

c) Lilongwe Bottom Hospital Maternity Equiopment: Approx £6,500:

The hospital has no Vacuum Extractors for delivering babies, Sonicaid Foetal detector, mobile Oxygen concentrators, and suction machines.

FUND-RAISING FUNCTIONS

Since our last Newsletter march 2005 the Charity Trustees have devoted most of the time to raising money for the Lilongwe Hospital Guardian Shelter/Accommodation.

1. Wirral Peninsula 12mile sponsored walk:

Raised £2,750, £1200 more than the previous year. There was a good gathering of participants. No walk was organised in 2006 due to work commitment of the organiser.

2. Annual Dinner Dance, Essex in November 2005:

MAHECAS celebrated its 10th Anniversary as a Charity. The Dinner Dance made a profit of £1300 and the National Raffle Ticket sale drawn at the Dinner dance made a profit of just over £1,000 and this year.

3. Sue Bentley:

A Staff Nurse of Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral organised a jumble sale at the hospital and sponsored weight loss and a meal at her house and raised £1,000 in 2006.

4. June 2006 - International Food Tasting and Disco in Boston:

This bi-annual event was well attended and over £1000 was raised. There were dishes from over 20 different countries. We have been promised that another food tasting function will be organised in June 2008.

5. Manchester Disco in Manchester:

On 12th July 2006. Evelyn Karonga and friends organised this function, which was well attended by Malawians and non-Malawians. The music satisfied people of different music tastes. £600 was raised. Another Fund-raising Disco will be organised around Xmas.

6. 1st October 2006 - Great North Run 13.1 miles:

Messrs Charles Nasoro and Edward Lizi ran in the Great North Run, half marathon for MAHECAS. They raised over £366. They would like to thank all those who sponsored them. They hope to raise more in 2007. Please sponsor them.

7. 28th October 2006 Dinner Dance:

Held at Stock Brook Country Club, Queens Park Ave, Stock, Billericay, Essex CM12 0SP
Raised £689. The attendance was very good. Another function will be held in October 2007.

DONATIONS RECEIVED

The charity is grateful to people who made donation to the charity.

Late Dr Kadzombe’s work colleagues at Aintree continue to raise money for the charity and in 2006 raised over £500.

Mourners at late Dr Mkandawire who passed away suddenly donated £490

There are a number of people and organisations who have made donation through standing Order mandates and one off donations

The Trustees are very grateful to all Donors, Function Organisers and all participants of fund-raising activities. We need more volunteers to organise functions in their arrears.
Please contact: Dr (Mrs) Matiti the Vice-chairperson, 93 West End Rd, Boston, Lincs, PE 21 7LP

OBITUARY - Rosemary BEVIS 11/05/1948 to 12/9/2006

Rosemarie Jayne Bevis passed away in Harrogate on 12th September 2006 after battling with cancer for two years. Rosemary and her husband, Neville, have been supporters of MAHECAS for a long time. She was part of an annual fundraising walk of Ashville College, Harrogate where her husband, Neville was a teacher before they moved to Malawi as Directors of Open Arms Orphanage in Blantyre until she became ill and came back Harrogate.

Dr Jack Mapanje represented MAHECAS at the funeral. Our condolences go to the family.

COMING-UP EVENTS

1. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2007

Date:    10th March 2007
Venue:    St George's Church Hall, Shern Hall Street, London E17 9HX
Time:    14.00

This is an election year. The chairman has to step down according to the Constitution after 4 years in office. A new chairperson will be elected. All office bearers and members of the charity can stand for election for any position.

2. London Marathon 26.1 miles - April 22nd 2007:

JANE VICK, Senior Dental Nurse Manager of Arrowe Park Hospital is running in the London Marathon. This is her first attempt at this distance and she has decided to run for MAHECAS. MAHECAS is appealing to all well wishers to support and sponsor her.

Please send your sponsorship to Dr Lizi, Chairman (address see below )or to Jane Vick , Dept of Maxillofacial Surgery, Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral CH49 5PE

3. Wirral Peninsula 12 mile Sponsored Charity Walk 19th May 2007:

Through popular demand the walk will be held in 2007 on May the 19th. It will end at a Pub with a Television so those football fanatics can watch the FA Cup final while the rest enjoy their pub lunch. For details and Sponsor Forms please contact: Dr E C Lizi the organiser (contact details see below

For More Information about MAHECAS (UK), our work or if you want to help please contact:-

Dr E C Lizi
Chairman MAHECAS
7 St Edmunds Rd
Wirral CH 63 2QU
Email: edward.lizi@ntlworld.com
Tel 01553 613613