Impacting the development of cane growers while contributing to job creation and transformation.
Annie has worked as a midwife nurse for a number years at Illovo Sugar Malawi’s Mwanza clinic at Nchalo. She is passionate about healing and serving people, particularly about maternal and child health. She also provides a wide range of services to the community including HIV testing and support, which is a crucial aspect of the fight against HIV/AIDS and in boosting economies across Africa. Annie also offers other family planning services, always focusing on ensuring that we are building and sustaining a healthy, thriving community by protecting lives and livelihoods.
We spoke to Annie as part of our series of “people stories’’ to find out more about her passion for nursing, why she chose this career path and how she continues to support the local community in Nchalo, Malawi. We were keen to find out more about her aspirations and beliefs too.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I am always thrilled when a pregnant woman comes in to deliver a baby without complications, and a healthy baby and mother go back home. Or, when a patient comes in critically ill and you help to make them better, I am always proud of that.
How many people do you see at your clinic in an average week?
It depends on the service we are offering. For example, for family planning we see on average 20 women per week, but if its antenatal its three ladies per week. Personally, I can attend to 50 patients per day, but at busy times when all the clinicians and support staff are around, we can see up to 650 patients in a day.
In the four year’s you’ve worked at the clinic, how has your work changed?
It has changed a lot because there are new services that we offer now, for example occupational health which isn’t offered at many public clinics in the area due to lack of capacity and trained staff. I have also become involved in engaging with the local community through youth clubs to disseminate health messages to young people living in the areas surrounding the clinic. I really enjoy this educational aspect to my job.
Do you collaborate with third parties as part of your services offered?
We provide a wide range of services from HIV testing to family planning, cancer screening, sexually transmitted infection management and TB screening. In addition, we work with the government on a twice-yearly programme for the supplementation of Vitamin A for children aged under five through our Child Health Days.
What are your aspirations for the future?
I would like to offer the best services that I can to patients, especially in relation to child health. I’d like to encourage young girls to be educated so they can achieve their goals in life and to be a role model in the local community. Personally, I’d like to take my studies even further by completing a PHD in nursing. The sky is the limit!