This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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FM arrives in Malawi
23/05/2005
First Minister Jack McConnell begins a five day visit to Malawi from today to build on the existing connections between it and Scotland, and establish an even stronger friendship between the two countries.
The FM's confirmed itinerary is:
Please note that all timings are in Malawi time, one hour ahead of Scotland.
Monday
12.50pm
Arrive Lilongwe, capital of Malawi, and met at the airport by Vice President His Excellency Dr Cassim Chilumpa.
The FM will visit Minga Community Day Secondary School, which is twinned with Sanday Community School in Orkney. A team of five third year students from Sanday won the recent Scottish Africa Challenge competition and their prize was a week long trip to Malawi. Five students from Minga school will accompany the Sanday students throughout their visit and they will make a reciprocal visit to Scotland later this year.
7pm
Barbecue hosted by the British Council. The Sanday and Minga school party will be in attendance.
Tuesday
9am
Bottom Hospital in Lilongwe. This is Malawi's main maternity hospital for difficult or emergency births, with over 10,000 deliveries a year. The FM will be accompanied on this visit by the Deputy Minister for Health, Hon Frank Mwenifumbo and the hospital director, Dr Damson Kathyola.
He will also meet Dr Graeme Walker from the Simpson Memorial hospital in Edinburgh. He is a the leader of a team of eight Scottish midwives who are based in Bottom Hospital for three weeks, to teach basic obstetrics to staff and students, as well as help in the hospital's day to day work.
11am
Malawi College of Health Sciences, Lilongwe, where FM will meet staff and students. The college trains a range of clinical staff including nurses and midwives, medical assistants, clinical officers, lab assistants and dental assistants.
7pm
The FM will host a Scotland and Malawi Reception in Blantyre, which will be attended by Scots working in Blantyre and the surrounding region, as well as leading figures from Malawi public life. Music will be provided by the Limbe School Choir, which is taught by a Scottish teacher, Glenys Hughes. Ms Hughes formerly taught at Sanday Community School in Orkney. The Sanday and Minga school party will be in attendance.
Wednesday
6am
Henry Henderson Institute Primary School in Blantyre. He will be accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Education, Hon. Anna Kachikho. This school, which was opened in 1909, has strong Scottish connections dating back almost 100 years. It has 1,200 pupils and 26 teachers, with an average of 70 pupils per class. The Sanday and Minga school party will be in attendance.
11am
FM on Capital FM in Blantyre for a live interview www.capitalradiomalawi.com
1.30pm
Malawi TV in Blantyre for a tour of the station, live interview and a question and answer session with an invited audience of students from the Malawi Polytechnic and the Henry Henderson Institute Secondary School.
3.15pm
Montfort College in Limbe and its Education Centre for the Blind where FM will meet staff and students. This college has a partnership with Strathclyde University, which has provided computer software and hardware to assist in the training of teachers working with visually impaired children.
Thursday
11.30am
Linthipe Feeding Station where he will meet Matias Kanyemba, the headman of the 39 villages this station supports, as well as many of the villagers. This community is supported by a Scottish-based charity, the Child Support Project, which provides support such as breakfast for under-5s, rudimentary health care advice and support for AIDS orphans. www.childsupportproject.org.
2pm
Nkhoma Synod and nurse training centre where he will meet the three Scottish VSO volunteers working in Malawi, as well as other VSO volunteers, the centre's staff and students.
The Scottish VSO volunteers are: Mairi MacDonald, an expert in community work; Pam Wilson, a nurse trainer and Sheena Nicolson, a teacher trainer www.vso.org.uk
7.30pm
The FM will host a Scotland and Malawi reception in the British High Commission Residency, Lilongwe. The guest list will include Scots working in Lilongwe and the surrounding region, as well as leading figures from Malawi public life. The Sanday and Minga school party will be in attendance.
Friday
9am
Meeting with His Excellency the President of Malawi, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, in New State House. This will be followed by a joint press conference.