Throughout human history, throughout the world, the majority of babies have been born at home. In the last few decades however, in many countries, hospital birth has been promoted as being “best”. So is hospital birth best? This is a question I discuss frequently in the UK, and it has been an increasing concern for me in Malawi. Since 2012…
The population in Malawi has grown at an astonishing rate in the last 10 years. There is a very important message that needs to be shared here – of family spacing and the use of contraception. The speed that the population is increasing is very problematic for such a poor country, not simply in terms of cash and service provision,…
Holding and carrying your baby all day is just what every woman does here. It isn’t a choice, it’s a necessity, but one which seems to work very well for both the woman and the baby. In the UK we have many options including prams and buggies, car seats, and a wide array of slings and baby carriers. In Malawi,…
In my days at the hospital I have been focusing on improving services in the special care nursery. Finding alternative ways of feeding babies who cannot breastfeed is vital. With minimal equipment and staff with no specialist skills in caring for premature and sick babies, feeding and kangaroo care are the main things we can do. I described this in…
Hygiene and handwashing are integral to professional healthcare practice in the UK. It is astonishing to experience a society where this just isn’t understood to be a priority. In the hospital here there is usually running (cold) water, but soap is not often available. It is simply not seen as a priority purchase. The irony of the posters on the…