The Corn Exchange, Dorchester                       Friday 2nd March 2012 at 7.30.

Tickets are £10 each and include supper catered for by local firm Fish Face.  There will be dancing and music from The Black Sheep band and a raffle. 

To order your tickets please email us at info@positivestepscharity.org It will be a pleasure to see you there!

If you are in a position to offer anything as a raffle prize we would love to hear from you. Why not download the event poster to display and help spread the word? Positive Steps Barndance Poster pdf

Many thanks for your continued support,                                                                    

The team at Positive Steps

Paolo with Ellen

During my last visit to Malawi I met Paolo, a Photo Journalist.  He has taken a wonderful portfolio of photographs illustrating the work of Positive Steps and has donated them all the the charity…http://www.paolopatrunophoto.org.

Rosy and I went into Horsington Primary School to talk to all of the children about the charity and life in Malawi.  We told Ellens story to illustrate typical life in terms of home and school.  The children were very interested, asked some great questions and have expressed a wish to do some fund raising for Positive Steps.

The current paediatric ward

Paediatric High Dependency.  Nkhoma Hospital is planning renovations to the Paediatric Unit including the development of a paediatric high care facility.  Positive Steps hopes to offer some financial assistance.

Daniel, left

Daniel Chmutu was the Clinical Officer for Orthopeadics and Burns at Nkhoma Hospital.  In Malawi there are very few Doctors, Clinical Officers study for three years and take on many of the roles of Doctors.  The Scottish Church are sponsoring Daniel to study Medicine in Tanzania, Positive Steps is supporting him with extra tuition.

Victor

Victor continues to do very well, he has had further corrective surgery this summer which means he is closer to being able to walk.  Positive Steps remains committed to ensuring all his transport costs are covered, Daniela Weiss, her friends and colleagues at Rega Air Ambulance have been fund raising specifically for this.

Ellen

Ellen Weluzani continues to thrive, photographed here with her new prosthetic feet.

Mark at Nguluwe School, October 2011

Portesham & Nguluwe Schools Twinning Project.  The school is very nearly complete, the roof should go on within the next couple of weeks.

Nkhoma Chisomo Foundation

The Nkhoma Chisomo Foundation for Elderly and Disabled is a group that meets twice weekly.  It was set up last year to provide an opportunity for those with disabilities to learn a craft and earn an income.  We visited The Chisomo Group with Joanna, the Manager of 500 Miles, the Prosthetic centre in the city.  Joanna was able to offer many of the group orthotics, Positive Steps has provided funding for transport to 500 Miles for measurements for *Ankle/Foot Orthotics, fittings and shoes appropriate for new orthotics: Abel Kanyala, Emmanuel Laston, Loita Kunzekerani, Kabawo Mbwara, Mawe Kapalamula, Wezzie Maseko.  *An Ankle Foot Orthosis in a plastic device used to correct the positioning of the foot-ankle complex.  It accommodates foot deformity caused by an underlying condition such as cerebral palsy thereby creating a stable platform to assist the person to stand and walk.

Benita

Both Major Fraiser, who had his left lower leg amputated in 1999 and Benita,who lost her right lower leg, were referred to Positive Steps for financial support with visits to the prosthetic centre and for shoes.

6 year old Oscar Masula, was admitted to Nkhoma Hospital with an extreme allergic reaction.  He had Stevens–Johnson syndrome, a life threatening skin condition, managed as a severe burn.  He was in hospital for 6 weeks.  His parents were not able to cover the cost of his medical care, Positive Steps has covered the cost of this and for specialist follow up. 

Alan with Jane

Alan Ching’ani, has cerebral palsy, Positive Steps has assisted with transport costs so that Alan and his father can visit Nkhoma Hospital for regular physiotherapy.

Felecia

We think that Felecia is about 14 years old, it is unclear what has caused her learning difficulties, it may have been a result of Malaria as a young child.  Positive Steps has funded one to one tuition for Felecia in the hope she maybe able to attend her local school.

Thakozani Waluza with Mark

Thakozani Waluza, is 15 years old.  He had bilateral lower limb amputations as a small child, in an attempt to cure aggressive tumours in his legs.  His medical history is relatively unknown.  He has also lost the sight in his left eye.  His prosthetic limbs were sub-standard and poorly fitting as they were made for him a while ago.  He required further orthopaedic surgery before he could have new prosthetics.  Positive Steps has funded his in-patient stay, ensured he had urgent surgery and arranged transport to 500 Miles for measurements for prosthetics, fittings and for appropriate shoes.

Fred Banda

Fred Banda applied to Positive Steps for financial assistance with his Nurse Training.  Daniela Weiss, her friends and colleagues at Rega Air Ambulance have raised money specifically to ensure Fred can complete his three year Nurse Training Program.

Mark and Loes, Lake Malawi

…to Mark and Loes for all their hard work and support for Positive Steps during their 9 months sabbatical to Malawi.

Mark and Loes

Mark and Loes are a dutch couple working at Nkhoma Hospital, here they explain the work they do and why they keep coming back to Malawi.

Our story begins in September 2009. That was the first time that we saw the beauty of Malawi. On this visit we stayed in Nkhoma for 3 months.  Mark worked as a physiotherapist and I (Loes) did paintings in the new wards about breastfeeding. Alongside this we funded and built a playground at a local preschool. At the beginning of December our time was up and we had to return to Holland. With tears in our eyes we made promises on the airplane that we would come back! And here we are again! After a year of working in Holland, living in a small room and saving money so we could come back to Nkhoma, Malawi, this time for 9 months.

Mark is working as a physiotherapist in Nkhoma hospital again. For now he is the only physiotherapist, but there is a Malawian who is studying physiotherapy and will start working in October. There are a lot of patients who could benefit from physiotherapy but it is not a common treatment in Malawi. So, Mark is running from ward to ward, looking for suitable patients and making it clear to the nurses that they should call Mark if they see a patient who may benefit from physiotherapy.  After a couple of months, you can really see that it is working; Mark has a lot of patients to see!  Besides the inpatients, there are also a lot of people who will come to his office for help. Mark found a local carpenter and together they are making crutches and special chairs. Once a week Mark goes to the capital city – Lilongwe to help in the prostheses centre run by another charity – 500 Miles.

At home I am a social worker but while in Malawi I am running an epileptic program in Nkhoma Hospital set up by Africa Burn Relief*.  Initially they went to local villages to see if there were any epileptic patients. They found 42 in total and surveyed them to find out more about their social life and how epilepsy affects this. Every Tuesday there is a clinic in the hospital where the patients will be seen by the doctor and myself.  Here they get free medications to help control their condition.  At present the number of patients visiting the clinic has grown to 190!

Again, alongside our work in the hospital we are doing another education based project. We are building a primary school in Nguluwe together with Positive Steps! After a few false starts the building work is really going well.

Nguluwe School foundations

We are loving our time here, and sad that at the beginning of November our plane will leave again.

 *In rural areas many burn victims are epileptic.  Whilst suffering from a seizure they can easily fall into fires (used to cook food and clear land for crop growing) or fall into/spill scalding liquids.

The country is in a difficult state right now with limited fuel imports, electricity and water cuts.  Changing £1800 in sterling to Malawi Kwacha involved Jane and I stuffing 2 (largish) handbags with wads of cash! The people of Malawi are very friendly and welcoming, with a lot of help from Jane I learnt how to greet people in the proper manner -                                -Muli bwanji?                                                                                                                                      -Ndilli bwino, muli bwanji?                                                                                                                -Ndilli bwino, zikhomo..since you ask!

Village Life

Cheeky village children

One day Jane’s friend and handy man – Wilfred took us to his village so we could meet his family. His three little girls were a bit shy to start with but knew Jane well and so were vying for her attention and to sit on her lap! (Although the white ladies still made the baby cry!). We met all the children from the village too as, being kids, were being nosy.  We made them laugh and scream with a couple of bottles of bubbles and showing them their photos and a video of themselves on our camaras. 

Nkhoma Mountain

View from Nkhoma Mountain

Early one morning Jane, Jessie (lovely girl from USA working with Youth Development also sharing the house with Jane) and I climbed Nkhoma mountain.  We were on top of the world by 8.30am! Spectacular views of scrubland interspersed with massive outcrops of granite and tiny dusty dirt roads leading off into the distance.

Nkhoma Hospital

I spent a little time with Jane in and around the hospital, the first time round I cried a bit as all the little babies especially the sick ones and premature ones really tugged at my maternal heartstrings. They were so tiny.  I found it hard that the mothers have to be so matter of fact about the distinct possibility of losing a baby. The next time I accompanied Jane I was much braver and went to see two little boys who bad burns and met more of the hardworking staff who were also matter of fact about life and death but also so cheerful with it.  The hospital was bigger and cleaner and, although I’m sure Jane will disagree, had the appearance of being fairly well organised! It was good to see the place where many people who have been helped through Positive Steps donations have been treated. The new Burns Unit was almost ready for its grand unveiling (unfortunately due on the day that I left).  Jane will be managing the unit for the next few months. The patients will have the best care but the staff? Well, theres no messing about with Nurse Cherry! She will no doubt train them to her very high standards.

Opening Ceremony of Nguluwe School

Laying the foundation stones at Nguluwe School

On Monday was the official laying of the foundation stone ceremony of the Nguluwe School just outside Nkhoma. Many people had been invited including the Village Head – Chief Nguluwe, the local Abussa (area vicar), school children, officals from the Orphan Care programme (who will also use the schoobuilding), the builders and us – Positive Steps (on behalf of the children at Portesham) plus Mark and Luce, the Dutch donors and Maralise Potgeiter (known as ‘go-go Pots’ (which means granny Pots to the locals) who lives in Nkhoma and is helping to oversee the building work. There was a lot of blessings, giving thanks, singing and dancing.

Nguluwe School foundations

This all took place as the sun was setting on top of a hill next to the school foundations. We then lay some foundation stones (bricks) to commemorate the start of the building work.  I’m sure if any builders see the photos of the brickwork they would shudder in horror but they seemed to know what they were doing! The building work has been a long time in starting and is still suffering from some hiccups but hopefully these will be resolved very soon.  I have some great pics to show the children at Portesham when I see them next week.

Lilongwe and the Lake

Ellen and her new shoes

Jane and I spent some time in Lilongwe (the capital) shopping for curios to bring home and sell (all profits to Positive Steps) and helping Ellen (who has two prosthetic legs) choose some new shoes. Mark the Physio told her she could choose any shoes she wanted, of course we all laughed as she went straight to the high heel strappy sandals! What a thing to say to a girl! In the end she ended up with some very nice brown and pink trainers which she was very proud of.

We visited Joanna at 500 Miles to discuss more about the work they are doing at the moment in making prosthetics for people.  It was great to see how prosthetics are made and know that Positive Steps money is helping to transport people to this clinic to receive such excellent treatment. We identified another area in which Positive Steps may be able to help through funding travel costs of phsyiotherapists to visit outlying villages to find more patients who could benefit from the services 500 Miles has to offer. More on this soon.

Going to buy fish by Lake Malawi

We drove on another couple of hours to Lake Malawi to spend the night a guest house called Cool Runnings run by a lady called Sam who runs her own charitable projects from the Salima area. There is a possibility that Positive Steps can help her fund some of the health care projects that she identifies. After a delicious dinner of butter fish we retired with a couple of G&Ts and had to listen to the disco next door! At 6.30 am we were sitting on the beach in our PJs watching the sunrise and the locals buying their fish for the day. Later on we had a swim in the clearest blue warm water and decided we had better head back.  We had to fill up with fuel little and often in case we couldn’t get any further on but we were lucky. We take it for granted that we can pay with plastic for practically anything in the western world but this is certainly not the case in Malawi, even in the city so we had to make sure we had enough cash on us to buy fuel, food, accommodation etc. ATMs are also very scarce outside of the city so we couldn’t just pop to the hole in the wall! It can make life a bit stressful!

Home Time

Sunrise on the mountain

All too soon it was time to come home. I had a wonderful time and saw a great many fantastic sights. All the local people and the ‘helpers’ in Nkhoma ensured my stay was entertaining and well fed, thank you to all of them and I hope to see them again sometime. I have come home with lots of knowledge of how Positive Steps is helping people and inspired as to how much more we can achieve.

Love Rosy