How does it work ? Nurse and medical assistant training schools in several African countries tell TALC that they have fewer than five textbooks, for intakes of 50 – sometimes 150 students. Worse, the textbooks may be years out of date and are written for students in Europe or the US. They are expensive and often not appropriate in content and level of English to the needs or conditions of the students. The textbooks assume access to high-tech equipment, which is not generally available in these countries. TALC has a programme to supply new, relevant textbooks to nurse training schools in African countries. With £ 10,000 we can buy new, appropriate textbooks, ship them and assist with in-country distribution to 3 nurse training schools/hospitals in a country like Tanzania, Sierra Leone or Uganda. As a result, the training of hundreds of trainee nurses or midwives in an African country could be immeasurably improved. And with better training, these nurses and midwives could save many more lives. Current situation re: textbook requests as at 22 March 2010: CAMEROON - TALC has been contacted by 1 Nurse Training school requesting textbooks; GAMBIA - We have sent books to 3 schools. HORN OF AFRICA COUNTRIES: DJIBOUTI, ERITREA, ETHIOPIA, SOMALIA, SOMALILAND, NORTH AND SOUTH SUDAN - We have sent books to 17 schools and have funding to equip 10 more. KENYA - Contacted by 23 schools; LIBERIA - Contacted by 1 school; MALAWI - Contacted by 2 schools. NEPAL - Contacted by 1 school. NIGERIA - Contacted by 4 schools. SIERRA LEONE - Contacted by the Senior Librarian in Freetown College of Medicine who is willing to organise the distribution to 7 schools. TANZANIA - Books were distributed through support from a local donor to 10 schools and feedback has been received from the students at several schools. 3 more would like to receive textbooks. UGANDA - Contacted by 8 schools. ZAMBIA - Contacted by 2 schools. ZIMBABWE - Contacted by 2 schools. “The books TALC sent us are of most importance for Community Health workers… I personally beg to receive more copies which could be used by every batch of students during their period of study.” Student nurse at Jalimo Health Workers Training School, Ethiopia, Oct 2008 “To TALC. Much appreciation for your books you supplied to us. We have realy benefited from them. They are educating and teach us about current guidelines in our health service. My major interest was in midwifery books – which provided me with the knowledge of common problems encountered in current deliveries and management. Please keep providing us more books. Thanks.” Student nurse, Ndologe School of Nursing, Tanzania, Nov 2008 Find out more: Webpage: www.talcuk.org