Pamene Palibe Dokotala, the Chichewa translation of Where There Is No Doctor was finalized in 2006 in Malawi. 456 translated pages provide practical, heavily illustrated and easy-to-understand health information from diagnosis to treatment, from diarrhea to tuberculosis, from childbirth to health of elderly.  This translation has become the most widely used healthcare guide in Malawi.

1. How and why did you become a translator?

From my secondary school days my interest was in Communication. I therefore, studied Linguistics at University and among other courses, I did  Translation. I have worked as a Translator for the past 14 years and I enjoy it.

2. Can you tell us a bit more about the Chichewa language?

Chichewa also known as Chinyanja, is a Bantu language spoken in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique as well as in Zimbabwe. In Malawi, it is a national lingua franca understood by about 70 percent of the population. It is also taught in primary and secondary schools thereby making it a widely used language among many people including speakers of other Malawian languages.

3. You have translated Where There Is No Doctor  into Chichewa language, how long did it take and how was is?

It took me about a year to translate it as I only worked during my free time with limited use of a computer. It was challenging because of the huge volume of the book as well as the technical nature of the content. It required extensive consultations with medical specialists on numerous concepts to ensure that I communicated the right information. More.

See: Umoyo Foundation