A special post from Nancy Mortifee, Board Chair for Seva Canada, who is leading a special self-funded donor trip to Tanzania and Malawi to see Seva's eye care programs there. Well, it has been quite an experience moving into Malawi. Due to a last minute cancellation of our flight from Dar, we arrived late in the evening the night before last. Our hotel, the Sunbird Mount Soche, is very beautiful and is a well recognized landmark in the city of 600,000. Yesterday morning Ruby, the Childhood Blindness and Low Vision coordinator for Queen Elizabeth hospital met us at the hotel and we all set out for a day of Seva work. After a very informative presentation by Ruby and Gerald, the only pediatric ophthalmologist in Malawi, we toured the hospital, visiting with children and adults both in the wards and clinic areas. Pediatric surgeries take place on Mondy and Tuesday only, with approximately 1 surgery and recovery per hour. Some of the adolescent children opt for local anethestic and the youngest being 9 years old. Although this is often possible, there needs to be a  anethesist at the ready because of possible complications or a last-minute decision to use a general anethestic. Since the hospital shares an anethesist with several other districts there is always a backlog of up to 60 children waiting for surgery and treatment. With the ever-shrinking window of opportunity to restore the sight of a baby or very young child, this is a real problem. The other issue is transportation. Gerald thanked Seva Canada profusely for having the vision to fund the training of informants and transportation costs for children and families, despite the fact that most funders prefer to contribute to surgeries only. It is clear that education, transportation and follow-up are the three areas of greatest need for the hospital, and indeed, pediatric services for Malawi in general.  Plans for outreach clinics are underway and it looks like it will take a while to get there. It's clear that it's a huge undertaking and we were all very moved by their dedication and health "warrior" energy. Thats' surely what it will take. This morning we go to watch a training for informants and then move on to Zomba Plateau.