This is a newsletter from the University of Malawi, College of Medicine Department of Family Medicine
We would like to share with you recent updates from our Department.
The Department of Family Medicine is pleased to inform you all that we have a new Head of Department, Dr Jane Bates. Dr Bates has been a key player of the department over the past years and championed the establishment of the Bachelor of Science in Palliative Care program. She takes over mantle from Dr John Parks who is now based in Bangladesh.

Dr Modai Mnenula will take on the role of deputy Head of Department.

Now that the College of Medicine has fully re-opened after months of stand-by related to Covid-19, we are excited to share with you some of our teaching that has been happening in this past month.

Picture above: Dr Martha Makwero (third from left) instructing our MMed Registars and Mangochi District hospital staff

Dr Martha Makwero, one of the pioneers of the Family Medicine program in Malawi, visited Mangochi District Hospital. During the visit she gave a training on Family Planning to the registrars and clinical officers.
Picture above: Dr Nitta Chinyama (standing) having a conversation with an intern clinical officer during the training .
The Department of Family Medicine is passionate about multidisciplinary in-service training at our training sites. Our registrar Dr Nitta Chinyama facilitated a training for intern clinical officers on caeserean section.

Picture above: Dr Modai Mnenula (left) and Dr Bente van der Meijden at the skills lab

The skills lab at Mangochi District Hospital has been equipped with new equipment, among which a neonatal suction machine. Our faculty joined the hospital staff in orienting themselves with the new equipment, which will enhance our teaching methods.
Introducing new registrars for the MMed in Family Medicine program!

Top picture: Dr Sarah Msimuko Bottom Left: Dr Makkawi Elnour Bottom Right: Dr Ian Matandika

We are excited to introduce our new postgraduate trainees who recently started in our MMed in Family Medicine program:

Dr Sarah Msimuko: based at our training site Nkhoma Mission Hospital, she is passionate about making a substantial contribution to improving the quality of primary health care in Malawi.

Dr Makkawi Elnour: based in Mangochi at our training site Mangochi District Hospital. He saw first hand the impact Family Medicine had in Mangochi while he was working at As-Salam Clinic were he was working prior to joining the program.

Dr Ian Matandika: based in Mangochi, he enjoys Family Medicine because of its holistic approach to provision of care which he believes is ideal for the people of Malawi.

Picture above: Dr Bridget Malewezi (Second from right), donating personal protective equipment to hospital staff as well as our faculty members.

We would like to acknowledge support received from Seed Global Health who donated Personal Protective Equipment for Mangochi District Hospital to assist in the fight against COVID-19. This PPE is being used by the hospital staff and by MBBS4 students, who did their first rotation after the Covid-19 standby of the College of Medicine.

Picture above:  Dr Bente van der Meijden with Mangochi District Hospital Staff and guardians of patients

We celebrate the opening of the playground for the Nutritional Rehabilitation Unit which was arranged by one of our faculty members Dr Bente van der Meijden. This aims to assist the children who have been hospitalized have a quick recovery as they use this area to exercise and leisure. 
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*|Created by Andrew Mihawa|*Our mailing address is:
*|amihawa@medcol.mw|