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Likoma Island with Mozambique in the background |
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Likoma Island |
| Likoma Island is approximately 5 miles long and 2 miles wide. It lies approximately 50 miles from mainland Malawi. The population is about 10,000 people. The people of Likoma have no electricity or running water. The land is extremely difficult to farm, yet despite this the people battle to grow cassava and rice. Many are fishermen, but the waters around Likoma are fast becoming over fished. The Island is beautiful, yet isolated and very difficult to live on.The people are among the poorest in the world. The Islanders are dependent on an old steamer calling once a week to bring provisions. Before the building of the x-ray and ultrasound department by African Steps, patients ( who were well enough to travel) spent 8 hours on the steamer to get to the facilities on main land Malawi. The main diseases and medical issues facing the people of Likoma are:
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