The Malawi Project, Inc » About the Malawi Project http://www.malawiproject.org We're Changing a Nation Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:46:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Florence is a Shining Gem as She Approaches 90 http://www.malawiproject.org/florence-is-a-shining-gem-as-she-approaches-90/ http://www.malawiproject.org/florence-is-a-shining-gem-as-she-approaches-90/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:12 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1089 AFlorence Crosthwaitege is No Restraint from Serving
Pensacola, Florida … On a warm, sunny, fall afternoon she sat in her living room, clutching a hand-made wire galimoto, and described how this gift had been given to her, by Malawi children, because of what she learned, and did, after reading about a wheelchair organization helping third world countries.

“I was on a plane heading for Ann Arbor, Michigan,” recalls Florence Crosthwaite who is approaching her 90th birthday. “During the trip I was reading the latest issue of Readers Digest magazine. It was the July 2005 issue, and it featured a story about Don Schoendorfer, the founder of the Free Wheelchair Mission in southern California. The magazine had nominated Don as an ‘Everyday Hero’ in its July issue, and I saw the opportunity to have them send wheelchairs to Malawi.”

Florence contacted the Free Wheelchair Mission in Irvine, California. They set up a program for wheelchair distribution with the Malawi Project, and the first shipment of 550 wheelchairs was on its way. This first shipment was quickly distributed, and drew national attention. Soon large numbers of people and organizations were contacting the Project in order to add their names to a growing list to receive the much-needed wheelchairs. The Free Wheelchair Mission specializes in all terrain plastic wheelchairs that are designed with bicycle tires that can easily be replaced in third world nations. The Malawi Project set up distribution points all over the nation and the program started growing. Since that first shipment the number of wheelchairs reaching Malawi, or in transit, has now topped 3,000. Florence will probably never travel to Malawi, nor will she meet the people whose lives she has changed. However, it is evident from stories that come from the cities, towns and villages that countless lives have been changed by the efforts of this one Florida resident. It is obvious she refuses to accept age as a reason, or an excuse, for not helping people half a world away.

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/florence-is-a-shining-gem-as-she-approaches-90/feed/ 0 Focusing on a Rose http://www.malawiproject.org/focusing-on-a-rose/ http://www.malawiproject.org/focusing-on-a-rose/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:22:01 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1059 Rose, an Orphan in MalawiMsamba Community Based Organization, Malawi.   Rose’s mother passed away in 2010 leaving Rose an orphan at the age of two and in the care of an 11-year-old aunt Joyce, who is also an orphan. Young Joyce must put Rose on her back and walk 9 kilometers in order to reach Msamba to receive assistance. In this case, the care of these children falls to their aged grandparents, who now find themselves overwhelmed with the care of nine grandchildren.

Rose’s mother was the second of nine children, and Joyce the sixth child in her family. When parents die leaving behind large families, it places a nearly impossible responsibility on older grandparents who are already struggling to find enough food, clothing and shelter with which to survive themselves. The arrival of 10 or 12 more mouths to feed, and bodies to cloth is insurmountable.

In an effort to cope with this national crisis the Malawi government, through a decentralization process, gave power to local communities to organize, identify, and assist needy people in their areas. According to Wilson Tembo, the Director of the Malawi Project’s southern warehouse distribution site in Thondwe, “These community based organizations are providing a positive alternative where the needy receive aid,” he notes. It was during a recent distribution of clothes and other supplies that Tembo came upon little Rose. After learning of her plight he continues, “Rose is the best symbol of many orphans who are left with only grandparents to care for them. These children lack essential things like clothes, school fees, food and housing. Because such a large gap exists between the need and the ability to get these resources to the children, the Msamba Community Based Organization came into existence at the grass roots, local level. Malawi has thousands of orphans who have no hope for the future. Many are innocent and many are orphans because of a 13.5% HIV/AIDS rate in the country. The Namikango Mission and Maternity Hospital is pleased to have the support of the Malawi Project, the Universal Aide Society, and Compassionate Resources Network in being able to help these community based groups, and especially to be able to make a difference in the lives of children like Rose and Joyce.”

 

 

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/focusing-on-a-rose/feed/ 0 More Wheelchairs for Malawi http://www.malawiproject.org/more-wheelchairs-for-malawi/ http://www.malawiproject.org/more-wheelchairs-for-malawi/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:42:07 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1058 Irvine, California … During the past few years a strong link has been established between the Malawi Project and the Free Wheelchair Mission in Irvine, California. The result has been over 2,200 wheelchairs shipped and distributed to handicapped people in all three regions of the country. This has taken place through an extensive network of Malawi organizations that work closely with the Malawi Project to distribute the aid that is sent into the country each year.

During recent meetings between the two groups in California the final touches were put on another shipment of 550 wheelchairs to be sent in the next few weeks to Malawi. The wheelchairs will be distributed through the Malawi Project’s southern warehouse in Thondwe, Malawi at the Namikango Mission and Maternity Hospital. Upon arrival in the country organizations throughout Malawi will be notified, and the wheelchairs will be picked up for distribution to those needing them.

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/more-wheelchairs-for-malawi/feed/ 0 200,000 Bricks for New Hospital http://www.malawiproject.org/bricks-for-new-hospital/ http://www.malawiproject.org/bricks-for-new-hospital/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:59:06 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1057 Bricks wait to be built into a hospital in Lintipi, Malawi 200,000 Bricks

Scott Gordon, President of the Malawi Project, was at the site in July for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital. Nearby was the growing stockpile of bricks. He observes, “Can you imagine a pile of 200,000 bricks made one brick at a time, by hand? This is the commitment of the impoverished village people in the area. They are determined to do all they can to get this hospital constructed, and the school underway. In a western culture where the heavy lifting is done with machines, it is hard to imagine making bricks by hand, one mold of mud at a time. Their commitment leaves ours something to be desired. We have ample heath-care, even though we complain at times over its cost. The fact is that we have new hospitals all over America. We have pharmacies, manufacturers, and abundant supplies of drugs and resources. We have doctors and healthcare workers available at a moments notice, and we have emergency response teams in nearly every fire station across the country. Malawi has none of these. No wonder they are so eager to have this hospital.”

The current value of a brick in Malawi is 2 Kwacha. That means the brick contribution is worth at least 400,000 Kwacha, or approximately $2,500.00. In a part of the country where the average person makes less than $1.00 a day, and unemployment runs 50%, this work is compounded in value.

More Than Simply Bricks
This is the villagers’ contribution to building the new hospital. But this is not their only contribution. With a Shoes for Trees program in place much of 2010 and 2011 the village people planted thousands of trees all over the property to enhance the beauty and value of the land donated for the school, hospital, and training center for helping develop self reliance in the local population, primary the widows and orphans. The program stopped, and the shoes ran out, but the village people did not. They have continued making bricks, planting trees, and cutting a road across the mountain to give access to the upcoming facilities. This work is all being done by hand.
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]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/bricks-for-new-hospital/feed/ 0 14 Million Tracts is a Lot of Reading Material http://www.malawiproject.org/14-million-tracts-is-a-lot-of-reading-material/ http://www.malawiproject.org/14-million-tracts-is-a-lot-of-reading-material/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:38:06 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1041 Mobile,Tracts to be shipped by the Malawi Project Alabama … On a recent tour of the south reporting on the progress of the work in Malawi a report was given to the Regency Church of Christ in Mobile, Alabama. The congregation has a long history of supporting major programs in Africa, and sending literature to preachers and churches for local distribution. Their web site also lists mission programs in Guyana, South America, Ukraine, Florence, Italy, Lima Peru and Rumuokwuruski, Nigeria. The congregation has five elders.

Richard (Dick) Stephens, of the Malawi Project, joined Nancy Talbot from the Regency Church of Christ in Mobile, Alabama, to present a recently printed tract destined for Malawi. Leroy McGaughy, one of the elders of the Regency Church looks on from behind the two, as they recognize and celebrate the 14,000,000 tracts printed and shipped to Malawi in less than 20 years. The Malawi Project assists the effort by using their supply shipments and network to include the materials published by the Regency Church. The number of tracts is quickly closing on the population total for the entire nation. This past year that figure registered 15,447,500 and the Regency effort is focused on passing that total as well.

McGaughy was excited to be able to describe the focus on Malawi that has been maintained by the congregation for so many years. He is the elder who directly oversees the printing and shipment of the tracts.

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/14-million-tracts-is-a-lot-of-reading-material/feed/ 0 A Mother Crawls in the Dirt http://www.malawiproject.org/a-mother-crawls-in-the-dirt/ http://www.malawiproject.org/a-mother-crawls-in-the-dirt/#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:28:04 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1034 Young Malawian Girl, Chisomo - her name means Grace.Thondwe, Malawi … Mary Saikolo cannot walk. In fact, she has never been able to walk, because of paralysis in both legs. She is both physically challenged, and a single parent. She starts each day by crawling in the dust from her small dwelling house, to a place where she can find enough food for three children, four grandchildren, and her 81-year-old mother. On a good day, Mary builds a fire, and prepares some food for her family. She bakes some mini scones to sell by the roadside. This is the way she raises money for her family. On Sundays, the kids help her travel for 15 minutes, in her wheelchair, to attend Sunday services. Mary is fifty-nine years old. In spite of her age Mary is not only taking care of her three children, she has also taken on the responsibility for caring for her granddaughter, Chisomo Rodrick (her name means Grace), her brother Dziwa 15, sister Merch 12, and a younger sister. Their mother died in 2010.

At five years of age, Chisomo attends an orphan nursery school near her village. But, it takes more than Mary can provide. Not only can she not keep up, the problem is getting more serious. The family is running out of money and resources. She looks at the visitor with deep concern. There is no work in the area for the older children. Malawi has an employment problem with 50% of its people out of work.

“You can see I have stopped baking the scones,” she says. “I do not have the capital,” She was embarrassed that she could not provide food for the visitor during his visit to her home. She had no food in the house that day for anyone, not even the children. “What will happen to them? Who will provide what I cannot give?”

“I understood her problem, and was unable to answer her question and the plea it contained,” noted Wilson Tembo as he left to prepare his report for the Malawi Project web site. “I don’t know what is to become of her, and the children, including little Chisomo.”

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/a-mother-crawls-in-the-dirt/feed/ 0 I’ve Had a Painful Day http://www.malawiproject.org/ive-had-a-painful-day/ http://www.malawiproject.org/ive-had-a-painful-day/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:13:21 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1013 “The most painful part of my work is telling children like Fredson we do not have wheelchairs, then watching them crawl away – helplessly.” Wilson Isaac Tembo

No Wheelchair for Fredson TodayI met a 9-year-old village boy who has a burning desire to be educated and crawls to school.  Fredson Mtentha of Nkanda Village is the boy, and  he has never walked. While some of us complain of worn out shoes, old-fashioned clothes, and boring channels on television, Fredson’s worries about how he can get to school. His burning desire propels him to crawl a 4-kilometer stretch of dusty road in order to reach school each day. Even though he tries in his classes, he lags far behind, and at the age of 9, Fredson remains in the first grade of a primary school. His case is a symbolic representation of many young boys and girls who are struggling with being unable to attend classes due to mobility issues and a lack of suitable wheelchairs.

At Namikango Mission each day is different from the others, and each day brings its own new challenges. Today I had to tell a 9-year-old boy that, at least for now, we do not have a wheelchair for him to go to school.  It’s been a painful day.

Report by Wilson Isaac Tembo

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/ive-had-a-painful-day/feed/ 0 Medical Doctor Calls for Supplies http://www.malawiproject.org/medical-doctor-calls-for-supplies/ http://www.malawiproject.org/medical-doctor-calls-for-supplies/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:57:26 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1019 We have celebrated Thanksgiving in America, and we are entering the Christmas Season. Despite our current economic woes, we remain a land of plenty, of choices, of wealth, and frankly of opulence. We should all be grateful; but more than that, we should feel the responsibility to share with others.

If you haven’t visited Developing Countries, it becomes difficult to understand the “lack” of things. Just the simple act of traveling around and you’ll notice the lack of what you consider basics: drinkable water, toilet paper [even proper bathrooms], trash cans, mirrors, “rest stops” with all the amenities, and on and on. Now multiply these simple examples by a thousand fold and you’ll begin to understand the lack of things.

This deficit of “essentials” extends to healthcare. Being a physician who’s worked in rural Africa for many years, I am acutely aware of the lack of necessary supplies. And I’m talking about very basic supplies here: bandaging and casting materials; proper suture [for stitching]; needles for starting IV’s; IV fluids; proper antibiotics and other medicines; etc. How about oxygen – do you consider this basic? Once in Tanzania we went five months without any oxygen because of some government snafu. How necessary simple oxygen is for newborns who are struggling, for severe pneumonia, for heart failure, and other cases! At this same time, my wife’s aunt in Texas had two oxygen concentrators – one at her home and another at the home of her daughter. [America: the Land of Plenty]

I haven’t even gotten into needed supplies for proper surgery – with all the instruments and other supplies. Trying to “make do” without proper instruments is like trying to change spark plugs without a spark plug wrench. And like surgery perhaps it can be done – but with difficulty, not well, and often with complications. When I first started doing skin grafts for burns in Africa, it was awful – “whittling” off skin with a knife, little pieces at a time. Then I received a dermatome from America [instrument for taking off large sections of skin with the proper thickness] – the difference was like ‘daylight and dark’.

Proper medical care is all about having proper SUPPLIES, SUPPLIES, SUPPLIES!! “The Malawi Project” is about sending supplies, medical and other, to needed areas. I can totally attest to the phenomenal needs that exist in developing countries. The resulting gratitude of the recipients is overwhelming and most humbling. Those of us with plenty should give to those who have little!

Frank Black, M.D.,
Medical Missionary to Tanzania, Africa for 5 years, and short term
medical mission work in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Guyana and Honduras.

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/medical-doctor-calls-for-supplies/feed/ 0 The Bigger They Get, The Harder the Challenge http://www.malawiproject.org/the-bigger-they-get-the-harder-the-challenge/ http://www.malawiproject.org/the-bigger-they-get-the-harder-the-challenge/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:39 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1008 Mwanza District, Malawi … In a recent report about healthcare in Malawi, UNICEF noted, “Mwanza District Hospital, located near the southern border of Malawi, provides crucial care to many of the country’s most vulnerable families.” Through the Malawi Project’s supply distribution depot at the Namikango Mission in Thondwe, critically needed supplies are sent to the Mwanza District Hospital. Wilson Tembo, the Director for warehouse operations watches over the distribution of these supplies, then follows up to insure the supplies go to those to whom they are intended. After a recent trip to the small health care center at Msipe, he then set out to conduct a visit to one of the major facilities in the south, the district hospital at Mwanza. The following are his observations.

“Having a picture of a small health facility like Msipe, one may think the situation is better in some main hospitals of the country,” Wilson starts his report. “But contrary to expectations, these government run centers are in a critical situation with many challenges when it comes to acquiring drugs and equipment that are needed to deliver health care to the masses.”

“A few days after visiting Msipe in central Malawi, we made some donations to the southwestern district hospital of Mwanza. This hospital serves a population of 94,000 people, near the Malawi-Mozambique border. Like Msipe, it has a massive task in trying to serve the needs of the people because of inadequate supplies. The District health Officer, Dr. Bwanali Jereni confirms that with a 250-bed capacity, the hospital has over 350 patients at a time. This means that over 100 people sleep on the floor without beds and mattress.”

“Dr. Bwanali Jereni explains why there is such a high population count of patients at this hospital. ‘More patients come from neighboring Mozambique, and other districts like Chikhwawa and Neno, because of the geographical position of this area. It is impractical for patients to walk to the Chikhwawa District Hospital, or to other centers in Neno. As a result they flock to Mwanza, because it is accessible. The roads are poor and hilly in the other areas so people prefer to come to our hospital. This increases our count, and the need for more supplies goes up.’”

“Like Msipe Health Centre in Central Malawi, Mwanza district Hospital has a high number of cases of malaria, HIV/AIDS related cases, pneumonia, tuberculosis, measles and malnutrition. There is a critical need for oxygen concentrators, mattress, beds and Elite glucometers.”

“At the conclusion of our visit, Dr. Bwanali Jereni thanked the supporters for making available the donation of syringes, orthopedic supplies, beddings, walkers, toilet chairs, and other medical supplies. The doctor observed they will make a big impact on the people along the border region.”

Report by Wilson Isaac Tembo

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/the-bigger-they-get-the-harder-the-challenge/feed/ 0 Looking in on Msipe Health Care Center http://www.malawiproject.org/looking-in-on-msipe-health-care-center/ http://www.malawiproject.org/looking-in-on-msipe-health-care-center/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:46:54 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1007 Thondwe, Malawi … One hundred and twenty kilometers north of Zomba is located the Msipe Heath Center, and it is to this location that supplies from the Malawi Project have been delivered by the Namikango Mission staff. Wilson Tembo, the Manager of the Malawi Project’s southern warehouse recently traveled to Msipe to look in on the staff, and the supplies that had been sent to the facility. Tembo gives this eyewitness report.

“I recently had the opportunity to visit the Msipe Heath Center, and now I have a better view of what they need, and how they are using the resources we have sent to them. On our trip to the facility we noted the roads were nearly empty, as most of the vehicles were sitting at empty fuel stations waiting for some unsure moment when more fuel will arrive. The fuel shortage in the nation is critical, and it is affecting all movement.”

“With a sufficient reserve of fuel in our tank we made our way to this 39-year-old facility, arriving at mid-morning. The buildings house maternity, general medical, nutrition, and outpatient. As we entered the facility most of the staff were quite busy caring for patients. The sister nurse in charge escorted me around, and shared the challenges they are facing. We passed the dressing room, and the consultation room (this later room also serves as the drug store). They were nearly empty, and looked hungry for supplies. The exam room was so old that it should not even carry that name. The nurse pointed it out with some regret.”

“I learned this facility serves a population area of 27,000 people, (the original plans were for it to serve only 10,000 people). It faces a continual challenge with supply shortages. As fast as we deliver, they use them for patient care. Msipe is near the top of our list of facilities receiving aid. This is true for several reasons.”

One is the fact they are using the supplies to help the very, very poor. This is a major reason we choose these types of facilities to receive aid. Second, if we can outfit these rural facilities with supplies the people will attend close to home and not overload the district facilities who are overwhelmed each time the rural facilities run out of supplies. Third, it is in a rural area. When these facilities run out of drugs people are forced to walk, cycle, or go by ox-cart to other facilities. There is a high chance that by the time they get there these other facilities will also be out of supplies.”

The trip through the facility begins to draw to a close, and Tembo concludes his report.

“The nurse said to me, ‘Our challenges are many. We generally lack drugs, gloves, exam couches, beds and mattresses, among other things.’ I noted this facility has only one medical assistant and four nurses. They are delivering 60 babies a month, and they admit 30 patients a week.”

By Wilson Isaac Tembo

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