In 2008 the College of Medicine has significantly increased its capacity to train more doctors and health professionals.  The high point of the year was the 25^th of June, a cool but sunny day, when His Excellency, the state President and Chancellor of the University of Malawi Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika officially opened new facilities in the College.

 The Chancellor first opened the new teaching laboratories for Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy/Pharmacology.  The Laboratory complex began construction in March 2001 but was stalled in its completion through lack of funds.  Fortunately funding from the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) for health has made it possible to complete and equip the new laboratories.

 The President then officially opened the enlarged and refurbished cafeteria and 4 newly constructed 84 bedded hostels.  These were completed with funds from the Governments of Norway and Sweden.  The increased capacity to accommodate more students has allowed the College to increase its intake in all three of its undergraduate programmes.

 Finally His Excellency opened the newly constructed Sports/Recreation Centre.  This facility has significantly enhanced the quality of life for students studying at the College.  It was funded by the Governments of Norway and Sweden.  The complex is run by a Manager and supervised by a Board of Management.  The Sports Complex has a remit to provide excellent sports and recreation facilities for students and staff at the college at the same time as encourage participation and use by the local community.  Its initial success and popularity is encouraging.  Other constructions currently in progress in the College include the Library/Resource Centre, two (150 seater) lecture theatres and the Postgraduate Institute.  The Library/Resource Centre is due for completion in September, 2009.  It includes two lecture theatres and an auditorium that can accommodate up to 350 people.  It is funded through the SWAp for Health.  The two (150 seater) lecture theatres, sited at either end of the Anatomy block are funded through the Global Fund.  They are scheduled for completion in March 2009.

 The Postgraduate Institute began construction in September 2008.  This will include the Information Communication Technology (ICT) unit and accommodation for the Division of Community Health.  Funding for the Postgraduate Institute is through the Governments of Norway and Sweden.  Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009.

  Undergraduate Developments

 2008 marked the first 13 graduates from the Bachelors degree course in Medical Laboratory Technology (BSc.MLT) despite severe constraints in human resources the convenor Dr S. Kamiza and colleagues from the Basic Medical Sciences were able to provide the human and other resources to run the course.  Fortunately recruitment of staff to strengthen the training programme is in progress and promises significant improvement for 2009.

 The Bachelors degree in Pharmacy now begins its fourth year.  It is anticipated that there will be eight candidates graduating in November, 2009

 MBBS Programme

 There has been significant review and revision of the MBBS curriculum over 2008.  This has been partly initiated through the award of a joint project to the College of Medicine with St. Andrews University in Scotland.  The Scottish Executive have awarded two significant grants of around £250,000 each, one to St. Andrews University and one to Edinburgh University.  These project grants involve harnessing modern ICT and distance learning techniques to curriculum development.  The St. Andrews grant involves mainly the Basic Medical Science disciplines, involving Years 1 and 2 of the MBBS programme.  The Edinburgh University grant involves mainly the Clinical years 3 to 5.  There is some overlap and the programmes are in collaboration through the Dean’s office.

 Already the impact of collaboration with St Andrews University has resulted in a thorough modification of the years 1 and 2 of the MBBS programme which is to be introduced in the next academic year.  Essentially the benefits will be reflected in less duplication in teaching, more free study periods for students and more integration between the basic medical science and clinical disciplines.

 An added innovation introduced to strengthen the process of curriculum review, audit and the maintenance of the highest academic standards across all academic programmes in the College has been the creation of the College of Medicine Education and Training Office (COMETO).  The main aim of COMETO is to provide quality control in teaching and training through monitoring and auditing the academic programmes and developments within the College.  Professor T Heikens has been appointed as Director.

 Postgraduate Developments

 The responsibilities of the Postgraduate Dean’s office have increased considerably over the past year.  The Research Support Centre is now well established.  Its aim is to facilitate research, through grant administration, training in research practice and development of research projects.  The Medical Journal of Malawi is now an internationally recognized journal and registered through medline.  The Masters of Medicine (M.med) programmes in the various disciplines are now running to their specific schedules.  The completion of the Postgraduate Institute will improve and concentrate all the postgraduate activities in the future.

Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital

 In June 2008 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the College of Medicine and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in regard to the responsibilities of each partner in the running of the hospital as a teaching and training site.  This has assisted the functions of Joint Management Committee whose Chairmanship rotates 6 monthly between the College Principal and Hospital Director.

 Two additional College of Medicine facilities, one already functioning and the other planned, are designated for the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.  The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit is now functioning at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.  This was a gift from Michigan State University and General Electrical to the Blantyre Malaria Project whose Director is Professor Terrie Taylor.  The MRI’s primary aim is to elucidate the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria in children but it is available for patients at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital as well as to the private sector.

 The planned development of a dedicated adult Acute Emergency and Trauma Centre (AETC) is far advanced.  This is a donation from the Wellcome Trust through the MLW programme.  The aim is to improve research and patient care through a speciality designated Acute Emergency and Trauma Centre (AETC).  The plans are well advanced and subject to the tender process.

 Towards 2009

 Looking to the future, plans for the Lilongwe campus are well advanced.  Land for the construction of hostels and a multidisciplinary teaching annex has been designated.  The Architects Montgomery, Oldfield and Denn (MOD) have provided preliminary drawing which will soon be submitted for tender.  It is anticipated that construction should start in the middle of 2009.

 Plans for a School of Rehabilitation are also advancing.  In collaboration with Tromso University, Norway, a curriculum has been developed and will be submitted to the University Senate for approval.  Funding from the SWAp for health are to be designated to introduce and establish the programme.

 The College of Medicine is grateful to all its stakeholders who have supported it throughout the year.  Special mention must be made to the Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Health, for the financial support through the SWAp funding mechanism.  The Governments of Norway and Sweden have been very generous to the College of Medicine as it implements the Phase III of their support programme.  The Norwegian Government has indicated its continued support through a possible Phase IV.  Discussions are in progress.

PROFESSOR R L BROADHEAD