The Malawi Project, Inc.

    The plan calls for visits to the children’s homes to begin with general health assessments and identification of health problems. A health attendant at each of the facilities will maintain contact with the main clinic as to the ongoing health needs of each of the children are accessed and care is extended. Up to date records will be maintained at the Sacred Promise Clinic and reporting to sponsors will take place from there.

    The Malawi Project has made a sizeable contribution of funds in order to begin the establishment of this program. Plans in coming months call for enlarging this program as the need for medical care for orphans continues to grow in Malawi.

Trying to Outrun the Torrential Rains

    When the rains begin in Africa’s sub-Sahara construction projects crawl to a near stop. This is especially true when that construction is on the roofs of buildings. It is not unusual for the brick sidewalls of many buildings to just "melt away" from the rain and moisture during the rainy season in the countries of the southeastern portion of the continent.

    The maternity facility at Thondwe was constructed in 1973-74 and for the intervening 30 plus years has been serving an area from Zomba, on the east, and the original capital of Malawi to Blantyre on the west, the commercial center of the nation. Mark Thiesen reports that approximately 60 to 80 babies are born in the facility every month. This fact made the statement from the Malawi government especially hard for both sides to contemplate. Although the facilities, supplies and equipment on the inside of the building were adequate and up to acceptable standards the roof on the outside was a different matter.

    The roof could not pass inspection and if it could not be fixed immediately the government announced they were going to have to shut down the facility. Part of the funding to solve the problem had been made available through Namikango supporters back in the US but a sizeable amount was still needed to begin the work. In August members of the Malawi Project learned of the problem and immediately solicited the needed funds from the Project’s Board of Directors. The funds were released to complete the job and construction started as quickly as the supplies could be purchased.

    There was no time to waste. Storm clouds were already forming over the big lake to the east and the tropical rains were not far away. If the rains arrived before the roof could be completed the problems could be insurmountable and a great deal of damage could be realized.

    All through September and October the work moved at a rapid pace. By early in November with the rains now upon them the problem was solved. Breaks in the weather had made it possible for the roof to be completed before damage was incurred.

   You can see photos of Namikango Maternity Hospital here.

Standing There Upside Down

    The guide cut the engine and the Land Rover coasted quickly to a stop in the thick red dust that masks our view of the the forest. In front of us sat one of the most grotesque images I had seen since coming to Africa. In every direction it seemed to be clawing its way toward the heavens, and it appeared to be nearly as broad as it was high. It was one of the old ones, one of the Baobab trees that inhabit this part of Africa. I had read story after story about them, and fable after fable. I did not know I was about to hear another of those tall stories (no pun intended) about this famous tree. But first a little more background might be in order for those who live in parts of the world where this tree has never traveled.

    The baobab tree is one of the longest living trees on earth. There is evidence that some have lived for over 2,000 years, while other reports indicate trees that may have lived in excess of 3,000 years. Trees can reach a maximum height of 75 feet and a maximum diameter of 60 feet around the trunk. It is most unusual in that nearly every part of the tree has a value to either man or animal. It can be used for lumber, is often hollowed out to serve as a refrigerator, or even as a burial site. After being hollowed out it can be used to hold water, or in its natural progression a large tree can actually store as much as 120,000 liters of water in order to survive long droughts in the harsh climates where it grows. It can also be used as a watchtower for a nearby village and the village people can climb to the top to see danger before it reaches their village. The fibrous bark can be used to make fishnets, cords or used in clothing. In some places the leaves are used as a vegetable and its fruits are also edible by both man and animal. Even the pulp can be used as a fruit drink. Some reports indicate it is also used for glue making, soap, rubber and medicine.The Center of the Community

    In many villages the baobab tree is a center for community life. Meetings take place under its broad branches, and in places it is the source of many religious beliefs and rites. The nation of Senegal has selected the baobab to be its national symbol.

    One African proverb from the nation of Ghana offers this favorable evaluation, "Knowledge is like a Baobab tree, one person’s arms cannot encompass it." However not every conclusion about the tree is quite this complimentary. Many fables revolve around the tree. One of them is drawn from its strange appearance. The leaves appear to be under the ground and the roots seem to be what is sticking up in the air. Because of this upside down appearance the story concludes it is an act of the gods. So the story goes it’s upside down appearance comes because of its arrogance with the other trees around it. This caused the other trees to be sad and the gods who planted them became angry and pulled the baobab tree up and then shoved it back in the ground upside down. In parts of Tanzania the village people believe the trees contain the souls of former chiefs or tribal leaders.

Here Comes Another Tall Tale
    Not to be outdone by the other cultures our guide launches into yet another tall tale concerning the appearance of the baobab tree. As the story goes when God created the earth the animals came to him and asked if they could be participants in the remaining portion of the creation. Since He was nearly done he advised them that the only thing remaining was to create the trees. The animals were excited because they could participate in this work. They asked God to let them plant the seeds for the trees. God reluctantly agreed. He then started giving out seed, one particular seed to one particular group of animals. Another group of seeds to another group, and on and on until He got to the last seeds and the last animals. It was the seeds for the baobab trees that remained and the only animal left were the hyenas.
    "Now everyone knows how stupid the hyena is," he observed.

    "Well, when they went out they planted all of the baobab seeds upside down. Stupid animals. That is why the roots look like they are growing up in the air and the leaves are buried out of sight in the ground."

     With that he turned the key, the diesel engine sprang to life, and we drove past the giant tree that may have been listening to every word!

    “It’s a strange place for a medical clinic I know. But it is the only place we have at the present. They come here day and night. It is not unusual to have a patient come to the gate at 11 o’clock at night,” says Samatha Ludick, the owner of the Cool Runnings Resort on Lake Malawi. This patient is coming because of some sort of a rash, probably from some allergy. “Rub this on and if you still have a rash in two days come back and see me again,” she instructs her gateman. He in turn conveys the instructions to the woman who is seated on the ground in front of Ludick. Thirteen thousand people live in the fishing villages around Cool Runnings and there is not one vehicle that can transport a patent to the nearest hospital located east of Salima.
    “It is 29 kilometers to the District Hospital in Salima and these poor people cannot afford transportation and it’s just a bit too far to walk there, don’t you think,” she asks? “This is why we must get the clinic done here. That way we will be able to do the simple first hand that is so badly needed.”
    Ludick has ambitious plans for Senga Bay and “its all about the villages,” she emphasizes. “These people have no resources to handle even the simplest first aid needs. Yet the problems that arise can cause someone to loose an arm or a leg, or worse,” she concludes.
    Ludick has operated the little resort on the lake since 2001 and feels it is critical for those who benefit from the area, whether by living here or just visiting, to help support the people who have no other way to make a living except through the tourism trade. In addition to a small clinic for the simplest of first aid needs Ludick intends to help the villagers create a culture center where the local people can capture and present the history of their culture in plays, bands and dances. She is also spearheading a number of other projects that are designed to keep the Senga Bay shoreline clean, as well as projects that help to create a pioneer spirit in the younger generation.
    In the meantime Ludick continues to entertain her guests with stories about Africa, offers of a “cool” and “relaxing” place for those who are always on the “run” (thus the name Cool Runnings), service projects for the villages in which her business sits, and first aid for those who come to the gate to the only place they know to get help. The Malawi Project is pleased to be assisting the Clinic at the Gate.