Malawi – Dr Janey Andrews 23 Aug @ 18.00

Malawi – Dr Janey Andrews  23 Aug @ 18.00

MALAWI

On Thursday, Janey Andrews, International Development Manager at Strathclyde University, spoke to the Club about the University’s commitment to building partnerships with various agencies and communities in Malawi.  This is seen by the University as a constructive way of exploring and developing approaches to a number of problematical areas of Malawian life, including energy generation, water supply, health issues, and education.  As an important part of its commitment, the University has a permanent member of staff in Blantyre, the second largest city in Malawi.

Janey referred to the long-standing relationship between Scotland and Malawi, which includes a specific aid programme funded by the government.  This has been reinforced by a number of local initiatives, as exemplified, for example, by the Dunblane Likhubula Project.  However, there have been voices raised – albeit a minority – that have criticised the spending of money on overseas projects when there are pressing needs at home, for example in the Health Service.  Janey addressed this concern by demonstrating that only 1.7 percent of total public expenditure was going on overseas aid.

In Malawi, Janey explained, wood and charcoal are the main sources of energy, with electricity currently providing only some five per cent of the country’s needs.  The University has, therefore, explored with local agencies developing the use of solar panels.  However, even what would appear an obvious solution to producing electricity has problems in terms of distribution and storage.  So the University, with support from a £3 million grant from the government, has initiated a development programme which seeks to address these issues.  Similarly, a project to map ground water sources is being undertaken, again with support from the government.  This aims to avoid instances where boreholes have been badly located, with, in some instances, a risk of contamination. 

An associated project in health education supported by the University aims to encourage good practice in water usage, and to improve aspects of community health, including reducing the high level of infant and maternal mortality.  An interesting adjunct is an examination of the efficacy of traditional medicines, including herbal medicines, still widely used in rural communities.  Of obvious importance, Janey emphasized, is improvement in the provision of education, particularly in primary education where as many as 200 children can be in a single classroom.  With a shortage of teachers and a lack of books, it is very difficult to raise standards of literacy. Improvements in internet access and the provision in some areas of village internet cafés are helping to address these problems.  In a very practical way, the University, as part of its Malawi Millennium Project, rescued library equipment and books from Jordanhill College, which was closing, and sent them to Malawi.  It also approached the local Phoenix Honda dealer who gifted two Honda motorbikes to give greater mobility to healthcare workers who would otherwise have to use bicycles.

In closing, Janey emphasised the importance of building on friendships within Malawi:  “good human relationships are the key to achieving success in all aspects of our initiatives”.

Speaker’s Host, Alan Macpherson thanked Janey for helping the Club to understand the range of support being given to Malawi by the University, and by Scotland. Her commitment and enthusiasm for these efforts was obvious.