Known as the warm heart of Africa, Malawi is located in south eastern Africa between Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania. It is described as a stunning and beautifully green country. However, Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. About 65% of the population live below the poverty line. The majority of the people live without electricity, running water and good sanitation.
LIKOMA ISLAND
The little girl we are adopting was born on Likoma Island. Likoma is the largest of the two inhabited islands in Lake Malawi, which is the third largest lake in Africa stretching to 365 miles long. There are about 10,000 people on the island and there is no electricity or running water. As a consequence of poverty and insufficient hospitals, the situation of public health on the island is critical.
CULTURE
Most villages in Malawi have a chief. The chief is an integral part of the village and sorts out any disputes that occur within the village. Elders are respected in Malawian society, as the life expectancy is very low (age 50).
Malawians’ staple food is maize, which practically every family will grow. Maize flour is cooked with water to create nsima, which they eat twice a day. Pumpkin leaves crushed and cooked with nuts and water are a particular favorite to eat with nsima.
Very few Malawians own cars, so people get around by walking or by minibuses (mutolas). There is no essence of personal space at all and it is not uncommon to see 25 people in a 12-seater minibus with chickens and goats to add to the fun. Travel between Likoma Island and the mainland is only possible by ferry and private airplane.
HEALTH
"The overall state of healthcare in Malawi is very poor. Poverty and malnutrition, lack of education and traditional beliefs have all contributed to a situation where several diseases are endemic. There are programs in place to immunize children, but still 1 in 5 children do not reach their fifth birthday. Recent figures from the Malawi Demographic and Health Survey show that 1,120 mothers and 4,200 babies die for every 100,000 live births.
Some statistics place the life expectancy in Malawi as low as 36 years. HIV, Malaria, Cholera and other illnesses all contribute to this. Limited staffing and unavailablity of medicine are widespread problems in the Malawi Health Service. While efforts are made to distribute medicines to even the most remote health centres, antibiotics, pain relief and parasite remedies are in short supply. In addition, the hospitals are over-crowded and sometimes people must share beds or sleep on the floors. Sanitation problems abound at hospitals.
The reality is that everything from diagnostic procedures to treatment regimes are unavailable to most people.There is only 1 doctor to every 50,000 people. In England, there is 1 doctor per 263 people."
Source: African Steps (http://www.africansteps.org.uk/about-us.htm)
