“I am hoping to be one of the best nurse midwives in my community. I dream of opening an antenatal care clinic where pregnant women will be screened to rule out any pregnancy complications.”

I am Chanju Mwase, and I am in my third year of studying Nursing and Midwifery at Kamuzu College of Nursing, University of Malawi.

There are a number of things that motivated me to study nursing and midwifery. One of the things is the desire that I have to help others. I feel passionate about nursing and midwifery being accessible to all people. I want to serve women and improve maternal and child health care. Being aware of the shortage of nurses and midwives in my country, I want to cover up that shortage. I also have an interest in maternal health.

I am happy to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week this week, 1-7^thAugust 2018, along with the World Health Organisation. Breastfeeding is very important because breast milk helps keep the baby healthy and supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions. It is easily digested helping to prevent constipation and upset stomach in babies. It also protects the baby against disease and infections. It is readily available and easy to access. In my community this access is important, since it costs nothing and does not need someone to buy it. Breast milk is always available wherever and whenever the baby needs it. I help to encourage mothers in breastfeeding their babies soon after birth and to breastfeed frequently 6 to 12 times in a 24 hour period.

Because nurses and midwives work with people all the time, I want to extend my skills and knowledge in nursing and midwifery so that I will be working well and competently. My studies will equip me with knowledge and skills on how to sensitise people on issues surrounding good health. It will also help to impart me with knowledge on how to care for a woman and provide neonatal care during delivery.

My community, especially women, will be relying on me for health information.  I will be teaching the people in my area on how to prevent communicable and non-communicable diseases. People will be using this information to prevent diseases, promote, maintain and restore health. A healthy community will mean a more developed community because people will be concentrating more on developmental works rather than taking care of the sick.  I hope to help make my community free from maternal and neonatal deaths.

I want to be one of the best nurse midwives in my community. After completion of my first degree I hope to gain a master’s degree to accomplish my dreams. I also hope of opening a pharmacy in my community where people will be able to access medication at an affordable price.  The pharmacy will provide people with employment, therefore also reducing unemployment rates in my area. I also dream of opening an antenatal care clinic where pregnant women will be screened to rule out any pregnancy complications.

Chanju Mwase, Watipa Scholar 2016, Malawi, with editorial support from Sam Mudie