Music against Malaria
Donation protected
The children’s accident and emergency (A&E) department at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, Malawi, was opened in 2001. Each year about 26,000 children are admitted through the A&E and a further 65,000 are treated and sent home. Children come with many problems including malaria, pneumonia, infection, heart disease and trauma. Over the years the A&E has grown and as a consequence so has the needs of the patients, their guardians and the staff. A&E is now open 24 hours a day and is staffed by health workers all trained in delivering emergency care. The system is fantastic and the staff are excellent, but the space for managing sick children is no longer appropriate and needs redesign / refurbishment.
Of the children admitted, 25-50% of them come through the resuscitation room. These children are desperately sick and require emergency care e.g. cerebral malaria, severe malaria anaemia, severe breathing difficulties, sepsis. The resuscitation room is extremely small with only three beds, but on a daily basis there are nearly always more than three children being treated at the same time. The maximum number of children who have been treated simultaneously in this room is seventeen. This means patients have to share beds, there is not enough room to ensure the guardians are comfortable at this distressing time, staff struggle to work efficiently and students learning is hindered.
The admission room for less sick children can also be traumatising for children, their concerned guardians and the staff. Clinicians try to assess children who are sick and scared, in a room where they witness other children undergoing painful procedures and treatment. Not surprisingly the level of anxiety and noise is phenomenal and distressing for all involved.
One of the biggest challenges within the department is the inability to provide privacy and dignity to the patients and their guardians. There is no space to assess adolescents separately, meaning sensitive conversations are observed and they have to undress publicly for their assessment. Whilst the level of care offered is to an extremely high standard, there are sadly some children we cannot save. Due to the lack of suitable space children will witness others being brought in dead or dying in front of them. Understandably this is extremely distressing for these children who are also very sick. It also means that we cannot provide dying children the dignity they deserve or suitable privacy for the grieving guardians.
Towards this objective, Code Sangala, a Malawian musician and well known broadcaster, has initiated a campaign to rebuild and refurbish the Children's Accidents and Emergency Ward in a way that will promote the dignity and well-being of Malawi's children and their caregivers. He is currently touring districts throughout Malawi on a Music Against Malaria tour and donating the proceeds towards this cause. While he has committed to raising 14,000 USD through his tour, additional resources are necessary to complete the redesign and provide needed equipment to provide a quality standard of care and improve the children's likelihood of survival. One hundred percent of all donations (less the Go Fund Me fees) will go towards the redesign and refurbishment of the department and to improving the lives of Malawian youth.
Of the children admitted, 25-50% of them come through the resuscitation room. These children are desperately sick and require emergency care e.g. cerebral malaria, severe malaria anaemia, severe breathing difficulties, sepsis. The resuscitation room is extremely small with only three beds, but on a daily basis there are nearly always more than three children being treated at the same time. The maximum number of children who have been treated simultaneously in this room is seventeen. This means patients have to share beds, there is not enough room to ensure the guardians are comfortable at this distressing time, staff struggle to work efficiently and students learning is hindered.
The admission room for less sick children can also be traumatising for children, their concerned guardians and the staff. Clinicians try to assess children who are sick and scared, in a room where they witness other children undergoing painful procedures and treatment. Not surprisingly the level of anxiety and noise is phenomenal and distressing for all involved.
One of the biggest challenges within the department is the inability to provide privacy and dignity to the patients and their guardians. There is no space to assess adolescents separately, meaning sensitive conversations are observed and they have to undress publicly for their assessment. Whilst the level of care offered is to an extremely high standard, there are sadly some children we cannot save. Due to the lack of suitable space children will witness others being brought in dead or dying in front of them. Understandably this is extremely distressing for these children who are also very sick. It also means that we cannot provide dying children the dignity they deserve or suitable privacy for the grieving guardians.
Towards this objective, Code Sangala, a Malawian musician and well known broadcaster, has initiated a campaign to rebuild and refurbish the Children's Accidents and Emergency Ward in a way that will promote the dignity and well-being of Malawi's children and their caregivers. He is currently touring districts throughout Malawi on a Music Against Malaria tour and donating the proceeds towards this cause. While he has committed to raising 14,000 USD through his tour, additional resources are necessary to complete the redesign and provide needed equipment to provide a quality standard of care and improve the children's likelihood of survival. One hundred percent of all donations (less the Go Fund Me fees) will go towards the redesign and refurbishment of the department and to improving the lives of Malawian youth.
Organizer and beneficiary
Code Sangala
Organizer
Frederick, MD
Dana Loll
Beneficiary
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