BACKGROUND: Nchima Trust has supported Malawians since 1962. Whilst we principally support talented but underprivileged Malawians through education, we do assist in other ways.

One of our beneficiaries, Patrick Kamalo, studied medicine and is now a Neurosurgeon working in Malawi. He approached us to see if Nchima would try and look for equipment to fit out an operating theatre/room in Thyolo, Malawi. He has trained a number of people to operate on babies with hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) which if left untreated can result in brain damage.

OBJECTIVE: We would like to help provide whatever equipment can be obtained. This will need someone to contact hospitals, distributors, other charities and organisations in Scotland and if that is not sufficiently fruitful, England, to see how far we can get with the required list.

SYSTEMS: Above all, someone with a systematic and dogged approach to getting the task done over phone and email would be really helpful. Pen and paper is fine but we do have a Salesforce database to collect all details of organisations, contacts and which can be used to send off emails etc. We are very happy to provide all training etc or use any other technology as desired. We have a full list of the equipment required.

HOW DIFFICULT IS THIS CHALLENGE?: My experience suggests that NHS staff really want to help but that it takes some effort to find the right person ie someone who understands our requirement and who has the authority to donate it. Donations at the moment are mainly going to Ukraine and Gaza, so organisations are used to doing this sort of thing.

Once equipment has been donated we can work together to work out how to get it to the Banana Box Trust warehouse in Dundee; but we have some experience of that.