Malawi is one of the poorest nations of the world and half the population are under 16 years of age. Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) children's department provides healthcare to the sickest children in Southern Malawi. With 80% of Malawi's healthcare budget funded through donor aid, thanks to the loss of USAID and foreign aid cuts from the UK and Europe, we are now facing huge challenges in delivery of quality care.

FOSCiM is our dedicated departmental charity that aims to augment clinical care, support paediatric education and improve infrastructure. Thanks to this dedicated commitment we have a new high dependency unit, a new cardiology ward, a new children's accident and emergency department and are about to start renovating our biggest paediatric ward. However to succeed in delivering the highest possible quality of care within these areas, it is necessary to buy the required medical equipment.

As the paediatric A&E consultant at QECH, I have set myself the challenge of running 110km on the 30th and 31st of August, to raise £50,000 (roughly MK 110,000,000). This will buy 10 resuscitation beds, which will significantly improve the quality of care that we deliver in our newly renovated children's accident and emergency department. It will also improve staff well-being, as currently they are trying to provide emergency care on low-level beds leading to them having back-pain and an impaired ability to work.

However the department also has other things on our shopping list, all of which are necessary to improve delivery of quality of care. These include:

Infusion pumps = £750

Vital signs monitors = £2000

Portable monitors = £4400

Defibrillator = £7500

Portable suction machine = £1300

So if someone has a particular desire to donate towards a specific piece of equipment or I surpass my personal target of £50,000 then more equipment will be acquired.

Any donation - big or small - will genuinely make a difference and will help to improve the quality of care provided to some of the most vulnerable children in the world. Your support will also help me as a train for this challenge and ensure that I put one foot in front of the other as I complete the 110km.