Taking the high road on health

Following her visits to Germany and Italy Dorothy Ngoma, our Oxfam champion from Malawi, visits Scotland to talk about public healthcare issues

The first stop of the Scottish leg of my tour was to meet a newborn baby, Daniel, and his mum Heidi. We got together to launch Oxfam's Scotland's 'Public Health first' campaign.

We're calling on the UK's International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander MP to support public healthcare in developing countries. Daniel is only 15 days old, and it's shocking to think that since Daniel was born nearly 20,000 women around the world have died in pregnancy or childbirth. We donned our 'Public Health First' wristbands and had our photograph taken. Daniel stuck out his wrist and went to sleep. What a little star!

While in Scotland I've been able to talk about some real issues affecting people in developing countries. Many people in Malawi get medicines from shop owners or market stall traders who are not trained pharmacists. It's not uncommon to see medicines in the market just sitting under the baking sun. This is often what passes for private healthcare in my country. It's far removed from what people in Europe understand when they think about private healthcare.

Speaking to fellow professionals like the acting Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Mags Maguire, is always really valuable. Mags has visited Malawi and understands the pressures that staff in the public healthcare service face. Explaining that there are only 700 registered nurses in Malawi for a population of 14 million immediately raises questions of how it's possible to operate. It's clear that current health services don't meet the needs of the people.

Finally, I had a meeting with Ann McKechin MP, under Secretary of State for Scotland, and Sarah Brown, the British Prime Minister's wife and Patron of the White Ribbon Alliance, which campaigns on maternal mortality. I could see how appalled they are at maternal mortality statistics in some parts of the world. It was another chance to raise the issue of training and retaining more midwives and nurses, as we have to do this to significantly improve the health services of Malawi.

It was fantastic to meet so many people who care so much about the issues around healthcare. I hope that one-day babies born in Malawi have the same level of care that baby Daniel has received.

Dorothy Ngoma