In this week's episode, Tamsin talks with Fletcher, Head of the Audiology department at the African Bible College (ABC), Lilongwe, Malawi. There is a critical shortage of healthcare workers in every area of medicine in Malawi, and audiology is no exception. Fletcher is the first Malawian audiologist. He trained overseas with the intention of returning to Malawi to start up the Audiology BSc degree programme for Malawian's to train in country. Here he tells us the background to the degree programme, the work behind the scenes and what challenges the students and the department currently face. We hope you hear Fletcher's passion for audiology coming across in the conversation.
Medic to Medic support 1 trainee Audiologist at the ABC with a scholarship. This is in collaboration with Otocare, an audiology clinic based in North West London.
Can you help? We would like to supply Audiology books, hearing aids, otoscopes, tympanometers, audiometers to the department to help build capacity. Could you set up a collection of recycled hearing aids in your local community? These equipments can be transported through our existing collaboration with the Banana Box Trust from the UK to Malawi and will be given directly to students and the department.
Or, better yet, can you help us support a student in need at ABC? Student audiologists are activity involved in service provision of hearing services throughout Malawi during their training, particularly during outreach clinics. Education and training of future audiologists will improve the quality of life, educational prospects and employment opportunities for all patients encountered during the students' training and even more so once qualified.
Medic to Medic need to increase donations in order to continue to expand our support to trainee Audiologists in Malawi - please get in touch if you may be able to help - there are so may ways you can help fundraise and get involved! [email protected]