Guardians Shelter

When patients are admitted to Dedza District Hospital, family members (guardians) accompany them to do their washing, feeding and changing clothes.

Guardians Shelter Sleeping Room at the Shelter

When we first visited in 2005, guardians lived in a run-down shelter in an area between the hospital and the local market. People slept on the concrete floor in cramped rooms. There were no facilities for washing clothes or cooking utensils or for personal hygiene. Water had to be brought in buckets from a standpipe in the hospital grounds. Toilets were inadequate and there was a danger of infections being carried into the hospital. Cooking was done on open fires, even in the rain.

In 2006, the rebuilding of the adjacent market enabled walls to be constructed round the area. This meant that improvements could be made to the existing site rather than moving to a new one. However, the conditions were still very basic.

The Partnership raised £5000 from donations and fundraising -

The Dedza District Assembly has used this money to provide -

• water supply to a standpipe, a washing area with showers and concrete sinks for washing clothes
• toilets with a septic tank
• electric lights inside and outside the buildings
• covered cooking area for use when it is raining
• security gate that can be guarded to ensure that the facilities are reserved for guardians
• re-painting the sleeping rooms

2007 - Clothes washing sinks Guardians celebrate improvements

The improved security means that gym mats sent in a shipping container in 2006 can now be used for mattresses.

The guardians have formed a committee from those resident at any one time to ensure that the facilities are cared for and used in a co-operative manner.

We are very grateful to everyone who helped with this project. It has made a tremendous difference to the lives of people who are experiencing the difficulties of looking after a sick relative.