Study for a medical degree at the University of Auckland includes an option to complete 10 weeks of training overseas.With the help of Rotary, Deanna Louis chose to spend that time involved with the Likoma Island Period Poverty Project in Malawi. Period Poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints. Malawi is one of Africa’s poorest countries. Women lose wages when their periods prevent them from working and girls miss out on education if they cannot attend school.
Deanna spoke at our last meeting of the primitive facilities at her St Peters Hospital base on Likoma Island, a 52 bed in-patient care with one X-Ray machine that none of the staff knew how to use. But with the assistance of charity Medic to Medic, Deanna was able to distribute period packs for which she had raised over $2,500 and deliver education sessions at three different schools. Raising awareness, giving first aid and motivational talks, developing leadership skills and dealing with equity and access issues were all part of the help she provided and understanding and knowledge she gained. She hopes to return at some stage to different areas of Malawi to use her education to assist further.
