5 May 2009

Medicine in Malawi project

Photo/interview opportunity - 2pm, Wednesday May 6th,
Lecture Theatre 1,
Ninewells Hospital and Medical School

Medical students and staff from the University of Dundee and Dr Dan Namarika, of Kamuzu Central Hospital, will give an update on the impact a programme of students placements is making on frontline medical care in the African country, in a meeting at the University tomorrow (Wednesday May 6th)

Medical students and staff from the University established the programme of placements in Malawi last year and several students have completed placements there. A reciprocal arrangements has also seen staff and students from Malawi come to Dundee for further training.

Details of the programme and the progress which has been made will be discussed at the meeting.

The 'Medicine In Malawi Placements' involve fifth-year medical students from Dundee working in Kamuzu Central Hospital in the capital Lilongwe on a four-monthly rotating basis. Dr Namarika is Head of Medicine at Kamuzu Central Hospital.

The aim of the project is to enable students to make a meaningful contribution to local healthcare provision in Malawi. In addition to working on their own ward, students also have the opportunity to do research, audits, and to work on mini projects with international health organizations and at local outreach clinics.

The programme was the idea of staff at the Tayside Centre for General Practice and is being developed with the first group of students to benefit from this opportunity as they now move into their fourth year at Dundee Medical School.

The partner institutions in the project are the University of Dundee Medical School, Kamuzu Central Hospital, and University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi. The project is a member of the Scotland Malawi Partnership.

The pilot phase of the project is being supported through three-year grants from the Scottish Executive International Development Fund and NHS Education for Scotland, although students and staff at Dundee have raised further funds themselves for specific projects.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk