In September 1993, the recently completed 32-bedded Burns Unit in the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi, was officially opened. This represented the culmination of 3 years' planning and construction; this paper presents our experience in developing this type of project, and an analysis of the early results of treatment in the unit. The widespread neglect of this common injury in developing countries is highlighted and the importance of input from specialists in this field working in collaboration with local medical and nursing staff is emphasized. The potential for making a significant impact in reducing the morbidity and mortality in burn injuries is highlighted.