10 June 2025
The BSSH LION Project is approaching half-way through the 5 year project with much to celebrate.
Firstly, the LION volunteers are coping well with the busy clinical weekly schedule with high levels of trauma being seen in the unit. Secondly, it’s proving to be a very positive experience for all with moral remaining high and the team motivated by the real prospect of a sustainable hand unit when we finish in January 2028. Thirdly the rolling Fellowship programme for Malawian Orthoapedic and Plastic Surgeons is going well.
Precious Kachitsa (photographed below) is our 3rd Fellow and our 4th Fellow Mzati Chikapolo, a plastic resident from Blantyre starts on the 1st June. Lastly, our current LION surgeon Jeremy Stanton has successfully trialled the “Rods & Cones” remote surgery link on reconstructive case with Tony Barabas in the UK. This equipment will be donated to LION for future use.
Fig.1 Precious Kachitsa, Edgar Mumba and Alice Campion in ED Theatres operating on Hand Trauma under WALANT
Lion Hand Unit Team
Edgar Mumba has been leading the BSSH LION Hand team from Feb to mid March. A plastic Surgeon training at the ALERT Hospital in Ethiopia, he plans to set up Zambia’s first ever hand unit, after he finishes his training this year. He was been joined by Alice Campion, Orthopaedic trainee based in the UK, and Linda Robson, a hand therapist who's recently retired from working in Salisbury. In March, Tony Barabas was the “boss” returning for his biennial visit to LION. A Plastics & Reconstructive Consultant in Cambridge and Peterborough, he taught the team, WALANT, the art of both hand surgery and Instagram posts.
The general trauma load remains high particularly from the RTAs and the panga injuries with multiple complex finger injuries as well as ulnar wrist /forearm. The severity, diversity and consistency of hand and wrist trauma is relentless. Approximately 200 patients per month are seen in clinic and 40 patients for surgery. In March there were 3 complications in 2 Patients (Abdominal Flap haematoma, loss of flap to the middle finger, Infected Flexor Tendon reconstruction to index finger), but overall the infection rate is relatively low for the Hand patients.
Fig.2 Senior Hand Fellow Kachitsa with a happy patient Isaac After the reconstructive surgery for a severe crush injury to his right hand /forearm
Hand Fellows and Teaching at LION
The teaching programme is continuing with dedication by Dr Precious Kachitsa, who is the Senior Hand Fellow on the team. A newly qualified COSECSA Orthopaedic Consultant, he is excelling in his training and is a gifted educator teaching residents and clinical officers are taught in the same single session.
Hand Therapy report March 2025
The first week of March saw the arrival of Linda Robson to take over from Melanie Albrecht in Hand Therapy who did a super job aligning with and encouraging Priscilla. Linda has been working with and supporting Priscilla to further develop her hand therapy skills and knowledge. Priscilla learns fast and is able to take a lead with many of the hand therapy patients we have seen. We have been concentrating on anatomy, tendon protocols and splinting skills. The hand therapy workload continues to be wide-ranging and varied averaging about 185 patients per month (DNAS - 24!)
R&R for the Team
On the social side Benetolo house residents have been taking part in the Lilongwe Hash House Harriers Monday evening social runs and they also attended the Malawi Vs Namibia World Cup qualifier football game at the national stadium.
Fig.2 Edgar, Linda, Priscilla, Alice & Kachitsa enjoying a rare team outing to watch football match after a very busy week at LION.
Recruitment
We are seeking Consultants and Trainee Surgeons for the second half of 2026 and 2027. We have had a drop off from UK Hand Consultants committing to dates on the programme this year. Many of our vacant slots are being taken up by some gifted African Surgeons from Ethiopia (3 so far on the programme) and also Edgar from Zambia who are contributing greatly. For those yet to volunteer who who are deciding on dates, please do get in touch as the programme stops on the 30th January 2028, although there will continue to be visits possibly twice a year and remote link for live surgery as well as ongoing MDT support.
LAST CHANCE FOR YOU TO WORK AT LION !
Fundraising
The BSSH LION Project team wish to thank you the membership for their continued support for this inspirational project and all those who have done some superb fundraising. Please do keep going and for any of you are keen to run, swim, cycle or climb for the LION Project do contact us to help you arrange the branding and sponsor links. If you want to join our stakeholder whatsapp group HELP HEAL THE HANDS OF MALAWI, please send your telephone no. to the secretariat @bssh.ac.uk. Our finances are in good shape with the project running within the annual budget of about £90,000 per year, thanks to the fundraising of over £125,000 and the initial “pump prime” of £75,000 from the BSSH. We still have a long way to go to reach £500,000, but with the promise for some grants, further fundraising, support from industry and with the backing of the society, the future of this Global Partnership project remains bright.
Jonathan Jones
BSSH LION Project Lead
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