Kit for Africa!

December 6th, 2007 by mas | Filed under Africa & Overseas, Courses & Events.

On Saturday some of us return to Malawi - this time we’ll be spending three weeks in Zomba - returning on New Years Eve.

So its time to take my first Malaria Tablet and it’s time to get our kit packed. Heres a list of the various stuff we’ll be taking with us…..

First Aid Kits: We have two of these. One with clean syringes and several sets of latex gloves + an Aspivenin kit (a thing that sucks outbites & stings - its only been used once and that was for some unknown thing that took a liking to my foot!). This is the ’serious’ kit that hopefully doesn’t get used.

The second kit is more ‘normal’ albeit with some additions. The normal stuff includes various dressings, wound closures, antiseptic wipes, bandages & plasters + some more latex gloves and some scissors. The additions include micropore tape (much better than plasters) and some medication that we wouldn’t have in a first aid kit in the UK - this includes paracetamol, ibuprofen, anthistamines, indigestion tablets, rehydration powder, anti diarrhea pills and some water purification tablets. In the UK first aiders shouldn’t ‘diagnose’ or ‘prescribe’ so as a rule you should never give any sort of medication. When traveling to a country like Malawi the same rules don’t really apply - its much better to have the stuff available as you don’t know how far away you might be from being able to get hold of it. The antihistamines got some use a couple of years ago in Tanzania after a jellyfish sting. On the same trip the rehydration powder was used (and also in Malawi) following sun stroke, and also in Tanzania the anti diarrhea pills were well used by about 8 people on the day preceeding Becky’s famous moment of falling into the sewer pipe of the the same toilet where most of her friends had spent a large part of the day on the toilet!

These kits are about 4 years old now so its important to check everything’s in date and well stocked. Another important thing for me is to remember to pack them in my hold luggage not my hand luggage! Somehow on the way to Tanzania I got through Heathrow security with scissors and syringes in my hand luggage!! I wasn’t so lucky on the way back when the security in Dar Es Salaam made me go through my bag and I had to throw away the scissors (they didn’t however spot the syringes which I’d forgotten about till on the plane!).

Electronic kits & gadgets we’re taking include: Mini computer, camcorders & cameras, several SD cards, an SD memory store, a GPS Unit, USB drives, battery charger, portable printer.

Activity kit includes: AS many mini footballs as we can fit in our bags, football pump, paint, paint brushes, pencils, rubbers, pencil sharpeners, card, scissors, childrens reading books, blackboard paint, sandpaper, multitool, tent pegs, some craft materials, YoMo teambuilding kit and the YoMo Handbook!

My personal kit includes frisbees, ipod, insect repellants, sun cream, peppermin tea bags, books, + clothes & shoes etc. + a few xmas presents

We’ll also be buying various stuff out there including fabric, string, cord, paper and some bikes which we’ll be donating to the Grace Orphan Group when we leave. We’ll also be buying a whole load of stuff for a xmas party for the kids (and probably most of the surrounding villages!) - partly funded by a kind donation from Steves Mum!

The activities we’ll be doing out there include lots of practical activities designed to help the children develop their English language skills. We’ll also be working with the adults to help them with ideas for programmes and particularly to help them begin to do some long term planning for the training and activity programmes they wish to offer the children involved with the group - and then theres also the small matter of a party!!

So I’d better be off to try & shove all that stuff in a big bag - so for now have a good Xmas and a nice relaxed New Year!!