Regular readers of the blog will be familiar with the joint working that has emerged over the last year between The MalDent Project and the charity AMECA. In a previous post, we explained the nature of AMECA’s most recent project at Chilomoni Health Centre, that has included refurbishment of the Maternity and Outpatient Departments, establishment of a Physiotherapy Unit and the construction of a Dental Clinic. If you would like to read more about the work that has been completed by AMECA at Chilomoni Health Centre, you can read an in-depth description in AMECA’s excellent recently published newsletter here.
Over the first two weeks of March, there was significant activity to bring the works and fit-out to a conclusion, as excitement mounted for the official opening which was scheduled for Friday 14th March.
The evening before the official opening, a dinner was organised at the Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel by Dr Gift Kawalazira, Blantyre’s District Health Officer. The Deputy Minister for Health, Honourable Noah Chimpeni MP, was to join us for the opening ceremony, but unfortunately he was unable to reach Blantyre in time for the dinner. We nevertheless had a very enjoyable, informal evening which ended with some brief impromptu speeches:
We had been slightly worried about the weather for the opening event, as earlier in the week the south of Malawi had experienced heavy rain during the passage of Cyclone Jude. However, we need not have worried as Friday 14th March dawned dry and bright, staying that way throughout the day.
We were fortunate that St James Chilomoni Catholic Church is close to Chilomoni Health Centre and we were allowed to use the extensive car park for those attending the event.
Between the cathedral and health centre there is a large area of flat ground, which would be used for the speeches later in the afternoon. The tents that were erected would have provided protection from any rain, but in the event provided welcome shade from the sun for those attending:
The improvements that have been wrought by AMECA at Chilomoni Health Centre are outstanding. Much of this post will focus on the dental clinic, because of the relevance to The MalDent Project. However, AMECA must be hugely congratulated on the entirety of what has been achieved at Chilomoni Health Centre in recent months, covering maternity, outpatients and physiotherapy as well as the dental facility.
This photo shows the three main characters involved in the transition from a small, non-functional dental surgery in the original out patient department, to the spacious two-surgery clinic that has been developed by AMECA:
It had been Wisdom Maiza, the dental therapist at Chilomoni Health Centre, who spoke originally to Ruthie about the appalling state of his original surgery in the outpatient department. This conversation set in train the collaboration between Ruthie, Peter Chimimba, Wisdom and I, along with all of AMECA’s collaborators in Malawi, to deliver a state-of-the art dental clinic.
A notable feature of all the refurbished facilities at Chilomoni Health Centre is the beautiful hand-painted art work on the walls. All of these paintings are designed and applied by Young, a gifted local artist.
Before the official opening, there was an opportunity for local people and friends of AMECA to view all the facilities that have been refurbished at Chilomoni Health Centre. This included the dental clinic, for which Wisdom acted as Chief Guide!
An invitation to the opening event had been issued to members of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery teaching staff based at the Blantyre Campus of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Dental Department, all of whom were excited to see the new facility. In time, it is hoped that the dental clinic at Chilomoni Health Centre will provide an opportunity for outreach teaching of senior BDS students.
The nursing staff based at Chilomoni Health Centre also came to inspect the new dental clinic and their dance around the chair suggests that they were suitably impressed:
The imminent arrival of the Deputy Health Minister was heralded by the delivery of a red carpet and balloons strapped to the back of a motorcycle:
Suddenly the singing increased in volume and the Deputy Minister appeared:
The Minister was directed first to the refurbished and re-equipped Maternity Wing:
From Maternity he was ushered to the Outpatient Department ….
… then to the Physiotherapy Unit, before visiting us at the Dental Clinic:
The Minister spoke briefly with dental team members before being led into the two-surgery clinic.
Once again, Wisdom provided an excellent overview of the facility and described the difference it will make for both staff and patients.
On the way out of the clinic, the Minister enjoyed some further discussion with Ruthie and Trinity:
Once the Minister had been shown around the health centre, we all moved to the tents on the flat area of ground adjacent to the cathedral. En route, there was time for a quick dental selfie taken by Welington Chikuni, one of the dentists based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who provides clinical teaching for the BDS students and has responsibility for overseeing dental interns there.
When we arrived at the area for the speeches, many local villagers had gathered:
Dr. Peter Chimimba delivered one of the early speeches …
… followed later by Ruthie …
… the Principal Secretary Administration for Health, Mr James Manyetera …
… and various other local dignitaries, concluding with a speech by the Deputy Minister …
Interspersed with the speeches were rousing shows by local dancers:
When the speeches had concluded, members of the national press were keen to interview the Deputy Minister …
… and, of course, Ruthie:
The run-up to the opening had been very busy for Ruthie and her team. I was heading back to the UK the following day, and once the event had concluded I enjoyed some snacks and a drink with Peter and our mutual friend Nelson Nyoloka, before heading home to pack.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate Ruthie and all of the AMECA Trustees for an amazing transformation at Chilomoni Health Centre. Special mention is also due to the architect, Mr. Jan Sonke, and the contractor, Mr. Mbewe, whose skills and diligence made the project a successful reality.
The significance of the dental clinic cannot be over-stated. Once fully operational, it will be the only dental facility of its type at health centre level in Malawi. We urgently need additional facilities of this type in Malawi to provide suitable work-places for the new dentists now being trained at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences. Chilomoni Dental Clinic provides an exemplar for replication in other district hospitals and health centres across the country.
We are still raising money for some of the final items of dental equipment at Chilomoni and if you would like to contribute you can do so here. Thank you
Thank you Jeremy, for this excellent and uplifting account of the Dental Clinic and the official day. Many thanks also, for all your liaison over the past 18 months; it has been an adventure!! We lok forward to completing the equipment side of things and being able to have fully functioning dental services at Chilomoni. Kindest regards from us all at AMECA.