Ella, FOM elective from the University of Liverpool, at Ronald Ross General Hospital
Perhaps I should not alienate all our Crucible readers at once by suggesting that most of us are, shall we say, rather spoilt. While I would be the first to admit our society in UK is not perfect, most of us generally expect basic services to be reliable – we expect water to flow out of taps, gas or electricity to be piped or cabled to our door, trains to run on time, politicians to be held to account.
The first FOM 2024 elective, Chloe, from the University of Edinburgh on a visit to the Kamuchanga hospital in Mufulira where the MMTA helped fund water provision this year.
Such is not the case in the town we are twinned with in Zambia – Mufulira. Today as I write I was told by Mr Ebrony Peteli, a former miner and driller, that domestic electricity is only available between the hours of 22.30 hrs and 0500 hrs (in other words, six and a half hours at a time when most of those dependent on it are asleep). In January of this year Zambia suffered the worst drought in two decades. Even when there is water, much is lost because of poor distribution by the mismanaged and underinvested Mulenga Water Company. The knock-on effect of drought on food security means starvation looms.
Against this backdrop the work of your MMTA charity, Friends of Mufulira, has never been more important and morale boosting. This year four young medical electives from Edinburgh and Liverpool medical schools took up our bursary and, as ever, the benefits were seen on both sides.
For the electives it can be a baptism of fire. Here is the first text we received in April from Edinburgh’s Chloe Wightman: “…first day completed – t’s certainly very different to the hospitals at home! But everyone is very resourceful, one of today’s procedures was putting in a chest drain fashioned from a catheter and an IV fluid bottle as
Friends of Mufulira in 2024 electives from the University of Liverpool, Ella, Sian and Joe, at Ronald Ross General Hospital
the collection vessel… …All of the staff have been very welcoming too…”
Electives stay at the FOM designated guest house at Julius Nyerere, hosted by Mrs Ethel Chibende who helps our electives to participate in ordinary Zambian life in their downtime – helping them to visit local markets or give directions about how to get about.
Chloe wrote: “Ethel is staying here with her granddaughter currently, we’ve been cooking for each other and tonight she made us a traditional Zambian dish which was lovely”. It is Ethel’s son, Mabvuto, who reliably welcomes the young doctors at Ndola Airport and transfers them to Mufulira, answering questions and providing the soft landing needed so that our doctors can be of maximum use.
A bed on the Ronald Ross General Hospital Labour Ward before ward renovations funded by Friends of Mufulira in 2024
When it comes to the hospital itself, I only recently came to understand that by Mufulira’s position so close to the Congo border Ronald Ross General Hospital often receives patients both from over the border (where services are almost non-existent) as well as Zambians passing from North Province going south.
It was from advice received from our electives in 2023 that we were told the top priority at the hospital was to improve maternity provision. Therefore, we obtained a quotation from Mr Peteli to renovate the labour ward. This work was under way when our electives were there and I am indebted to Chloe for the ‘before’ photos.
The aim was to out install new ceiling tiles, electrical feed, paint all walls, renovate flooring, and install new basins, toilets and cubicles. All this work is now completed and aside from anything else we know that the hospital is buoyed by the morale boosting assistance and long term friendship with MMTA and FOM.
Labour ward shell after renovations funded by Friends of Mufulira
I am not suggesting anyone does this – but if you were to stand in Mufulira’s high street and say the word MMTA enough times you might be surprised as to how well known the name is, and how it is associated with something good.
At our MMTA Anniversary Dinner on 1st October members will get a chance to contribute further to our ongoing work and elective programme or perhaps join a future trip to Mufulira to take in the nature of this urban town, so important to
copper production and yet so badly in need of support.
By Anthony Lipmann, Trustee, Friends of Mufulira
