Current Priority Needs
The priority areas for the project supported by the charity are:
training & development of Malawian personnel
upgrading infrastructure
on-going Drugs and Equipment and Medical Consumables
Some indicative cost estimates:
Drugs
Cardiac clinic - £1,250/$1,750 per annum (mostly digoxin, captopril or enalapril, spironolactone)
Neurology / epilepsy clinic - £1,525/$2,135 per annum (sodium valproate, carbamazepine)
Sickle cell clinic - £625/$875 per annum (hydroxyurea)
Diabetes clinic - £625/$875 per annum (insulin)
Neonatal follow up clinic - £ 625/$875 per annum (mostly iron and vitamins for our ex-prem babies)
General and asthma clinic - £315/$440 for steroid inhalers
Inpatient drugs - £1,525/$2,135 (amoxicillin or augmentin suspension, IV cloxacillin, ciprofloxacin suspension)
Oxygen cylinders - £625/$875 per annum (we use these to transport patients)
Lactogen (for orphaned babies): £1,250/$1750 per annum
HIV positive children - Fluconazole suspension £ 625/$875 per annum
Equipment
Blood sugar monitors and sticks. Many children who are ill have a low blood sugar and it is important to test it in an emergency. Monitors (20) and sticks for a year estimated at £1,785 ($2,500).
Good quality blood pressure / saturation monitors (mobile, on stands).
Each costs £1,425/$2,000 for a reasonable quality one. We need another 3 for the neonatal unit to cover all our wards.
Oxygen concentrators. We have no ‘piped gases’ – rather we get oxygen from machines which extract it from the air. Several are getting old and are in need of repair or replacement. We need 5 and a basic new one costs about £2,142/$3,000 including the shipping etc. A portable one that will reduce our need for cylinders costs £2,360/$3,300. We could really do with 2 portable ones.
Suction machines. We need 10 manual / foot pump ones. Each costs about £145/$200
Vital Signs Monitors. £1,950/$2,750 each
Admission stationary. £1,075/$1,500 per annum
Equipment that is being disposed of in the UK or elsewhere, but we will gladly use:
- Drip stands
- Metal trolleys
- Ultrasound machines (but please contact us first!)
- Patient trolleys
- Wheelchairs
- IV cannulas – 22 or 24 g
- Intraosseous needles
- Phototherapy machines
Maintenance
This is extremely difficult to budget for as reliable engineers are scarce. However, we could spend £3,600/$5,000 a year on this extremely easily should we find a suitable partner.