First bursary for a Clinical Officer

Medical staff in Malawi were described to me recently as ‘our angels on earth’. More than 60% of hospital posts are vacant and the shortages are most acute in rural Health Centres.Chifundo was seven when his parents split up and he was adopted by a lady who wanted help with household chores and this enabled him to go to school. Unfortunately she died when he had reached Standard 6 but her son, impressed by his school progress and good behaviour took on responsibility for him.Selected for Mzuzu Secondary School, Chifundo needed a bursary for the fees and this was awarded by the Nkhotakota District Welfare. He did well during the four years of Secondary School, became the Head of the Students’ Union and achieved excellent results in the School Certificate exams.From 2014 to 2016 he tried to obtain a higher education place but only 1% of Malawians achieve this and he was unsuccessful. A third attempt brought the offer of a place to study Clinical Medicine at Ekwendeni College of Health Sciences as a self-sponsoring student from July 2016. The College is part of the University of Livingstonia.He managed to pay the deposit and started the course. He explored many avenues to obtain funding but without success and he was becoming desperate when by March 2017 his fees had not been paid. A letter to the Bishop of Northern Malawi asking for help was passed on to Team Malawi with a happy result. We shall follow his progress during his course and what he does afterwards. I look forward to meeting him in Mzuzu in October.Chifundo’s response on hearing that Team Malawi would pay his fees:“Thank you for extending your hands for my destiny to rest upon. I write to express my gratitude on what you have done in my life. Thank you for considering me as one of your beneficiaries. I promise to work tirelessly with God’s help in order to accomplish my vision that is now being accelerated by you.”Richard BartonChairman