The charity Abba’s Rest Orphans was established in Scotland in 2002, and has links to Ayr and Dunbar, East Lothian. The charity aims to relieve poverty and advance education of orphaned children in Malawi, working closely over many years with other charity partners to achieve this.
The £2,000 grant, donated directly by CWP Energy, will assist the maternity unit in the small town of Chiringa, where midwife-in-charge Edda Kumakanga and her staff deliver around 75 babies per month with no neo-natal deaths. This is an amazing statistic, considering the hygiene facilities are substandard for medical emergencies. To mitigate this, the grant will cover the reconstruction of their shower and bathroom facilities, which are in dire need of renovation following Cyclone Freddy in 2023. Local tradesmen will complete the renovation work, ensuring an immediate improvement in hygiene for those who use the maternity unit.
Ian Dickson, treasurer and trustee of Abba’s Rest Orphans, said: “The new shower and toilet facilities at Chiringa maternity unit will make a huge difference to the women attending to give birth – making the facilities more hygienic and their stay more pleasant – while at the same time boosting the morale of the staff and showing the whole community that people in Scotland care for their well-being.”
Diane Wood, Director of ESG at CWP Energy, said: “We are delighted to support this charity, and the maternity unit in Chiringa. The staff do an incredible job of ensuring the safe delivery of babies across the region, but refurbished facilities will boost the privacy and welfare of their patients. The renovations will also provide employment for local contractors. We are looking forward to seeing the finished result, which will be utilised for many years to come.”
Keep up to date with the charity’s amazing work in Malawi: https://www.abbasrest.org/