Don't miss this rare opportunity

Dear Friend or Colleague,

If you are within striking distance of Edinburgh, Scotland, on Thursday 14th March 2019, please join us for this  unique Friends of Chitambo fundraising event at the Lister Learning and Teaching Centre, University of Edinburgh,  5 Roxburgh Place, EDINBURGH EH8 9SU,  12.30 to 1.30 pm.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FLYER

This is a rare opportunity to hear Marion Moffat, great, great niece of Dr. David Livingston'es wife, Mary Moffat, conversing with Julie Davidson, acclaimed journalist and author of 'Looking for Mrs. Livingstone', conversing on Dr. David Livingstone's legacy.

Entrance is £3 per person (students £1.50), with proceeds in aid of Chitambo Hospital, central Zambia.  The talk is followed by networking, book sales/signing, and Zambian craft sales.

We hope to see you there.  Please contact me if you need any further information.  I will be delighted to help.   Please, please also forward this message to anyone you know who might be interested.

Thank you and warm wishes,

Jo Vallis, FoCH Chair

Proudly presenting our new FoCH leaflet

 Proudly presenting our new FoCH leaflet, thanks to Trustee Heather Emond:
CLICK HERE FOR THE LEAFLET

Proudly Zambian

See this amazing video about young Zambians contributing, on the international stage, to technological advances:

https://www.facebook.com/ZambiaRobotics/videos/2345978615432351/?t=0

Chitambo School of Nursing has come a long way

Look at this wonderful page?! : http://chitamboschoolofnursing.com

Such progress since opening in 2012?

CHITAMBOSCHOOLOFNURSING.COM

Chitambo

The School was established by the missionaries in 1958 and was training Enrolled Nurses. The training institution was handed over to the Government of the Republic of Zambia in 1967.

Heavy rains play havoc with the Great North Road

Our hearts are with Zambia as the Great North Road, the main trade route with Tanzania, is cut off by heavy rain: https://www.lusakatimes.com/…/lufune-bridge-on-great-north…/

Website development

Thanks to Edinburgh Software Engineer Paul Vallis for the great progress on building our new website and thanks to content management company, Contentful, for the pro bono charity support:

Vallis (@Vazerthon) Tweeted:
I've just had confirmation from @contentful that I can use a pro bono account for the
@FriendsChitambo site I'm building with @gatsbyjs 🎉🎉🎉 Great to see technology companies helping out in the #charity space!https://twitter.com/Vazerthon/status/1092460173875130368…

Historic visits to 'Livingstone's Hospital'

Chitambo Hospital, central Zambia, is on the map! Dr Malama, Permanent Secretary for Health, paid his first visit to the hospital on 15th February. What an honour. The visit was a great success. Several Scottish Government officials have also, previously, visited Chitambo. Hopefully the hospital, founded in memory of Dr David Livingstone, who died nearby, will one day have all the resources it needs.

Imagine a Scottish district general hospital with no running water, autoclave, or utility vehicle? Just a few of the challenges Dr Malama found during his visit to Chitambo Hospital, the living memorial to Scottish hero Dr. David Livingstone.

Dr Malama, Permanent Secretary for Health, inspects maternity registers 

Message from SCOZAP

Message from the Scottish Zambia Partnership (SCOZAP), our Zambian leaders in Scotland:
https://mailchi.mp/7d…/join-scozap-for-10k-and-social-event…

Wild Namibia photo exhibition

Wonderful Haigs Penicuik....
https://www.haigsbarandrestaurant.co.uk/....
has hung a selection of photos by Paul Vallis, Penicuik Hunter 2007, for sale in aid of Chitambo Hospital, Zambia. Come see these 'Wild Namibia' photos if you can, and stay for coffee and a legendary Haigs scone.

Challenges of installing emergency radio infrastructure

Reaching the remote Reuben Rural health Clinic, on the Congo Border, was very challenging for CC Systems, who installed the new emergency radio infrastructure in  Chitambo District (See pictures).  However, they managed and Reuben now has radio cover and can reach several other Chitambo District clinics.  This will save lives of  remote, rural villagers.

CC Systems has installed the new radio infrastructure at Chitambo Hospital

Message from Chitambo partners:

"The new radio system installation at Chitambo Hospital by CC Systems. All the four(4) ambulances within Chitambo District now have radio communication systems.Thumbs up to our partners FoCH. The gesture will improve on responses to emergencies."

Good news from Chitambo towards an activation of the short code (Toll free number) by the Zambian Ministry of Health. Good Afternoon Consider, We have done the radio installation at Chitambo hospital and on a primary test with one ambulance we could reach a distance of around 40 km (see attached pictures). Also we did have a bit of a challenge to get to Reuben RHC that borders Zambia and Congo DRC (see pictures attached) we managed and all went well. Reuben has communication as well and connects to several clinics. We installed one extra mobile antenna into one additional Ambulance which already had a radio installed but no antenna Please let us know should there be any issue with the system, but we do not expect any problems. With Kind Regards CC Systems

CC Systems installing the emergency radio infrastructure

We urgently need a Mothers Shelter

Chitambo Hospital also urgently needs a Mother's Shelter so that, in line with government policy, expectant mothers can deliver in hospital.  The shelter will provide accommodation for up to 1 month before delivery.

A similar shelter was built at Mpelembe, the largest of Chitambo District's 'hard to reach' Rural Health Clinics, in the Bangwelu wetlands.  This was funded by the Zambian Government's Constituency Development Fund.  However, that supply is now exhausted and the Chitambo District Director of Health is concerned about how to meet the government requirement that all expectant mothers deliver in hospital.  His cost estimate is around £12,000 for the building infrastructure.  More would, of course, be needed for equipping the shelter.

Any thoughts on how we can help Chitambo raise this funding would be welcomed.

We urgently need that trauma training

The shortcode (free toll) emergency care number installation is not a moment too soon as these photos of a serious bus accident at Kanona, near Chitambo Hospital, on 18th January, show. One person died and the injured were ferried to the hospital in the pouring rain.

This accident was reported the day after our Scottish Government Small Grant Assessment for our next funding application.  This application includes requested trauma and first repsonder training for hospital staff.  As the Head Physiotherapist said after the above accident:

"We urgently need that trauma training." 

Bus accident at Kanona near Chitambo

Chitambo ambulance crew stands by 

Dealing with the wreckage

Shortcode number for health...it's official!

Thanks to Scottish Government, First Aid Africa, the Zambian Ministry of Health and the tireless efforts of Mr Consider Mudenda, Project Coordinator, money has now changed hands and work to install the necessary infrastructure (masts and radios) to enable the 992 shortcode (free toll) number for health in Chitambo District begins on Monday 4th February. Once implemented, this system will give everyone free telephone access to emergency help and advice, saving lives by cutting down on multiple delays.

FoCH, in collaboration with First Aid Africa and Chitambo colleagues, has  priced medical equipment...autoclave, x-ray processor, laboratory fridge and other items....much needed by the hospital.  These, again sponsored by Scottish Government, should soon be in place and making a difference.