Just Visiting
Before I write anything else about my week, it's confession time. No writing has been done since my last blog. There, it's said. However, I have no regrets because I have clocked up some memorable and valuable experiences, all of which will no doubt feature in my future writing, so I have stopped beating myself up about my writing desert. I'm just applying layers of compost at this stage, ready for when the drought ends.
A Difficult Day
Last Monday, I received a 6 am message from F, the manager of Open Arms, asking if I could accompany him on a hospital visit with a young mother whom the charity is supporting. He was collecting the woman, her young baby and her aunt and uncle from somewhere close to where I'm staying, then taking them to Mangochi hospital, which is about an hour's drive away. She had been taken there the previous week for a Psych assessment and needed to be reviewed following a trial of strong medication.
It was an emotionally tough day, but gave some great insight into the depth of support provided by Open Arms to ensure the welfare of the communities it assists.
The poor woman's story, like so many, is a sad one. During her nursing training three years ago, she became mentally unwell and had to return to her home village to be cared for by her family. To add to an already set of sad circumstances, last year she was taken advantage of by a man (it isn't known who he was) resulting in the birth of her son, who she does not acknowledge as her own. For some time, she has been unable to communicate or perform basic tasks of self care.
Her aunt and uncle are clearly providing loving care for her and her child, but it's hoped that with the right medical support, the young woman may be able to interact and care for her son. The psychiatrist explained that getting the medication levels would take time, but he is hopeful. I suspect that without the intervention of the Open Arms team she would never have had the opportunity to be assessed.
We will be returning to the hospital with her next week.
Positive Outcomes
The next day was a long one. I drove down to Open Arms early to visit three families in the district who are being supported by the charity. They were all a considerable drive from the office, along a long, bumpy road near the Shire River.
I was accompanying F, along with his finance manager and agriculture specialist. Part of the programme is to provide the families with farming support, including seeds and land management so that they can be self-sufficient in feeding themselves and the wider community.
The first visit was to the grandmother of a child who was abandoned by her mother. The child is happy and loved, but life is tough for the grandmother who also supports other family members. The land that she farms is some distance away from her house, as two years ago her house was destroyed in terrible flooding. Everyone in the area had to relocate but she now has to walk the long distance back to her field. Having assessed and measured the land, the agriculture specialist can now determine whether she can be supported in growing soya beans to provide her with an income.
The second visit was to one of the little boys I met last year when he lived at the Open Arms Infant Home. This time we walked in the midday heat to the land she rents for farming. The area she rents is too small for growing soya, so conversations were had with the landlord of the field about obtaining some extra land, but unfortunately these weren't successful. There will be further visits to establish a plan.
Our final visit was to one of the little girls I also met last year. I remembered her vividly - she was such a bright, happy little child - and still is. Her mother died, so with Open Arms support, she is being raised by her aunts. She is clearly adored by everyone, including her many cousins! We waited around for a while as the landlord they rent land from was meant to come and meet the team - no great hardship for me as I got to spend time with sweet, cuddly little M. The landlord didn't turn up, so again, a further visit will be arranged.
You can find out more about the support provided by Open Arms on their website:
https://openarmsmalawi.org
Friends Reunited
The end of the week brought a visit from my dear friend Madam C, who was returning from almost a month of marking the national MSCE (Form 4) exams in Zomba. A big-hug reunion, it was so good to fall straight back into our laughing ways and was only marred by it being way shorter than we'd have liked.
Blogging Off
More next week, but in the meantime, if you don't already do so, please follow me on Instagram @Malawi_enjoying_ourselves.
Thanks for reading,
Clare