IT may be “a forgotten page in history, but what happened 30 years ago was a monumental achievement”.

The words of independence and disability rights campaigner Martin Keatings yesterday, 30 years from the day his mother and her nursing colleagues established a midwifery unit in Malawi.

Isla Keatings, now 64, took up the challenge when a retired colleague from Borders General Hospital, who was in Malawi, contacted her to tell her how bad conditions were for expectant mothers.

She suggested doing something about it and after the ward sisters jumped aboard, it ballooned, encompassing community centres, Drumlanrig School in Hawick and, as word spread, into a nationwide effort.

Old or unused hospital equipment and supplies were put aside and collected by Keatings and his father, who delivered them to bus company Stagecoach in Perth, who then transported them to the south-east African country.

“Everything from basic midwifery supplies to things like mosquito nets was transported en-masse to the new unit,” said Keatings.

“It was a co-operative effort by hospitals from the Borders to the Highlands. What would have been thrown out because it was fast approaching the end of its life, was re-tasked to assisting some of the most impoverished in the world.

“The unit still exists to this day and continues to provide proper midwifery care to tens of thousands of expectant mothers in Malawi – all made possible by the co-operative efforts of nurses across Scotland.”

Keatings said it was important to mention the anniversary in light of the current climate about the country’s responsibilities regarding international medical co-operation.

His mother retired in 1997, but remained active as a volunteer and even obtained her karate black belt.

Keatings said that while the maternity unit campaign was a public effort, it was also taken up in schools where his mother ran the “pretty simple” 1p initiative.

“Kids across the country would fill Smarties tubes with 1p coins. At that time a Smarties tube was the exact diameter of a 1p coin. When they had filled those tubes they would then deposit them at a central point in the school for collection.

“Thousands of kids across Scotland (and their parents) participated in this, raising tens of thousands of pounds. They also held charitable events to assist with the fundraiser, all of which was spent on medical equipment.”

Twitter users were yesterday united in praise of the efforts of Isla Keatings and her colleagues. “I remember this happening all those years ago. Well done to your mum,” wrote Yvonne Russell, while Geraldine McCormick said: “That’s a wonderful story. You’re right to be proud and share it.”

Suzie Blue tweeted: “This is amazing and a wonderful story you are right to be proud. Unsung heroes all of them. A Shining light in these sad times of darkness.”