Lake Malawi's Clinic Ship
The Project
Stage 1 - Renovation
The Malawian Government's Ministry of Health own the Chauncy Maples. They will renovate the ship to international standards and laws, under the direction of naval architect Pieter Volschenk BEng Msc. He will be assisted by marine engineers Nigel Cheal and Jimmy Chisonga who will use many of the original parts. They have worked on Lake Malawi's 1949 ship Ilala for many years and have wide experience of both the lake and vintage engines. Chauncy Maples has recently been taken out of the water into a floating dry dock and found to have a strong sound hull and good propeller.
Stage 2 - Running the Health Service
The Ministry of Transport will provide the qualified crew. In addition to their training in Monkey Bay Marine College, the crew will also be trained in first aid and health promotion.
The Ministry of Health will provide staff and a clinic for the people living in remote communities on Lake Malawi's coast. The medical team will consist of a doctor, two nurse-midwives, one registered nurse, one medical assistant and one health assistant.
They will provide treatment for diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera and HIV/AIDS; ante-natal and maternity care; simple operations; dental care; child immunisation; family planning and advice on safe sex.
The Malawi Government is in discussions with the Mozambican and the Tanzanian governments about taking the service to their coasts too.
Stage 3 - Green Fuel
This is an environmentally friendly project. The Chauncy Maples' diesel engine will be run on fuel with an admixture of biodiesel made from the non-edible jatropha curcus plant. The Malawian company Bio Energy Resources Limited (BERL) have encouraged smallholders to plant 24 million jatropha trees on marginal land which cannot be used for maize or food crops. BERL are constructing processing plants to turn the seeds into engine oil. The husks will be returned to growers to be used as fertiliser and cooking fuel.
The use of jatropha oil will create employment, lead to lower use of fossil-fuel and reduce imports of diesel. The British company Regenatec will provide training and parts for converting the engine to bio-fuel.
Funding
The Malawian Government has pledged first KW50million (£240,000) for the refit, to be matched by The Chauncy Maples Trust (Malawi) and the Chauncy Maples Malawi Trust (UK), a registered charity (number 1128174.)
