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- My learning curve has been like a rocket, Kristin says, nine months after the preparatory course in Norway in February. The days are long and challenging, the responsibilities are huge. Kristin has learned to be patient, learned to take hard decisions, and death is no more a taboo in her world. In Malawi death is part of everyday life.
50% of the Malawian women deliver at home
Less than 50% of the Malawian women deliver at hospital. The tradition says that you should deliver your first child at home. With complications the women often arrive too late to the hospital to save the child, and/or herself. 807 out of 100.000 women in Malawi die during pregnancy or childbirth. To compare, the number in UK is 8. Kristin tells us that every day at least one baby dies at the hospital, sometimes they are dead born. She has been used to death as a part of life, but says that there are of course most of the happy stories.
Braindrain
One of the problems at Bwaila Hospital is lack of nurses and midwifes. Many of the educated personnel go to England or other western countries; others are “stolen” by the NGO’s or private hospitals in Lilongwe, who allow them quite high salary compared to the general hospitals. The consequences are for example that Kristin has to help up to ten women to deliver at busy days. But she is very enthusiastic about her work, and she really feels alive.
Leave the hospital one hour after the baby is born- I work with the strongest women on earth! says Kristin. She is impressed by the Malawian women, who carry one child on their back, while they are pregnant – and work at the field! And one hour after they have given birth to another child they have to stand up, wash their clothes and go home. And she never hears any complain.
New Bwalia - with single rooms
Last month new Bwaila Hospital opened, a huge step for maternity, a lot better equipped than the old building from 1930. Hot showers are provided and single rooms allowing privacy for the mothers; so they may bring their husband and relatives. The new hospital has lots of advantages, but the challenge is again staff; it was easier to have an overview of 14 beds in one room.
ESTHER-project
The exchange program between Haukeland and Bwaila is one of the projects within the ESTHER-health programmes, which is one of FK's focus areas.
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FK-participant Kristin Rykkje work as midwife in Lilongwe, Malawi
Every month 2-3 twins or tripples are born at Bwaila Hospital. |