Billy Riordan Trust set to open new clinic in Malawi
THE work of the Billy Riordan Memorial Trust has taken another step with the completion of the HIVI clinic at Cape Mac Clear, Malawi.
Founder of the Trust Mags Riordan has been back in Dingle recently and during this time we got a chance to chat with her about her work in Malawi.
Since Mags convinced a local chief to provide the land for her to build a clinic in an area which had no medical services, the Billy Riordan Memorial Trust, or ‘The Billy’s’ as they are known locally in Malawi, have worked tirelessly to improve the overall health status of the village of Cape MacClear.
The clinic has been in operation since 2004 and this month an ancillary HIVI Aids clinic building, which has been constructed alongside the original clinic is in the final stages of compeltion. The clinic started to provide HIVI services in 2008 and since then they have tested more than 6,000 patients and have 1,500 patients attending for anti-retrovial treatment each month. The number receiving this treatment increases on a weekly basis.
The clinic is run by local staff and volunteers who travel to Malawi to work for a period of time.
Also in the past year they have constructed a solar power system to provide a reliable source of electricity for the clinics and the volunteer centre that accommodates all the volunteers, as the electricity grid was not reliable.
As well as the work of providing medical services they provide an under -five feeding program, a Bilharzia treatment programme and an albino skin protection programme. Bilharzia is a devastating parasitic disease contracted by coming into contact with contaminated fresh water.
The Trust also provides educational opportunities and support in the form of an education sponsorship programme. As a result of this seven young students from the village have completed degree courses at the University of Malawi and currently there are 20 sponsored students in second level education and five studetns studying in university.
More information on ‘The Billy’s’ can be found on their website www.billysmalawiproject.org/