The Malawi Project, Inc » Search Results » Namikango 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 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 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 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

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/looking-in-on-msipe-health-care-center/feed/ 0 Fuel Crisis Heightens, Staff Responds http://www.malawiproject.org/fuel-crisis-heightens-staff-responds/ http://www.malawiproject.org/fuel-crisis-heightens-staff-responds/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:39:53 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=1005 Namikango Mission, Thondwe, Malawi … As the nationwide fuel crisis continues month after month, and shortages grow more critical day after day, the shortage of medical supplies is becoming more acute. An already supply starved nation, finds it with even fewer medical provisions. The ability to get them to places where they are needed is now grinding to a halt. While this national crisis is making it more difficult, the Malawi Project, the Namikango Mission, and its distribution network continues to function.

Church Building Becomes Distribution Site
Four years ago the Malawi Project established a strong working relationship with the Namikango Mission and Maternity Hospital, near Zomba. Forty-foot trailers of supplies had been directed to three sites in the central region for a number of years, but Namikango became only the second site for distribution in the south. A former church building was refitted to be a major warehouse, storage and distribution facility, and millions of dollars in aid started flowing through this new venue. Wilson Tembo, who had worked with the Project in the central region, moved to Thondwe to oversee the program. Tembo set up an intricate reporting and follow up system in order to track supply distribution. He started accessing various medical facilities in the south, and accumulated their needs lists. He makes site visits that are a vitally important component to this work.

Responsible Malawians Know the Territory
“With these site visits, Tembo can assess where future supplies are needed, and what items should be at the top of the list. These trips are vitally important to the health of our medical supply program throughout Malawi,” according to Richard Stephens, one of the founders of the Project. “Americans cannot be everywhere on site, all the time, in order to track these supplies. Responsible Malawians know the territory, and they are better qualified to manage the program. They form the front line management team who exercise responsible oversight of this program. We have a great team in Tembo, Bisini Mphongolo, the administrator of the mission, and his staff. They are doing a great job.”

“During their visits to the various facilities they are able to gain a better picture of the health situation and need. They can quickly communicate this information to the states, and the most critically needed items can be sourced for future shipments,” reports Suzi Stephens RN, Medical Director for the Project. “It is a great benefit to have them making these first hand, on site, visits to report what these resources mean to everyday Malawians, and how they are being effectively used.”

A Heart Warming Sight
During a recent trip to Malawi, Scott Gordon, President of the Malawi Project, looked in on the team at the warehouse and observed, “It is really heart warming to see the way the Malawi staff has taken hold of this program, and are faithfully executing it to the benefit of the people. It is very different than many other programs where upper staff and management are from the expatriate community, and the Malawians are secondary players. In our programs the Malawians take the lead. For them to be responsible for their own future is the way we think it should be. It is working.”

In coming weeks new information will be posted on this site giving first hand reports of trips by this management team to sites where millions of dollars are being distributed. New stories post every week. Sign up today for an instant email as the stories are posted.

In the picture Wilson Tembo, far right, poses with the staff of a health care facility as they receive a portion of a recent shipment of supplies from the Malawi Project.

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/fuel-crisis-heightens-staff-responds/feed/ 0 By Land, Sea and Air http://www.malawiproject.org/by-land-sea-and-air/ http://www.malawiproject.org/by-land-sea-and-air/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:35:58 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=987 Blantyre, Malawi … The plane touched down on the short 7,628 foot (2,325 meter) runway at the Chileka International Airport, located nine miles northwest of the commercial city of Blantyre in southern Malawi. Its contents include $1 million (180,000,000.00 Malawi Kwacha) in medicine that is badly needed by one of the poorest, least developed nations on earth.

During the same week another 40-foot trailer of medical supplies were unloaded at the Malawi Project’s southern warehouse at the Namikango Maternity Hospital and Mission in Thondwe. The value of the truck shipment has been valued at approximately $600,000.00. This makes the total of the two shipments approximately $ 1,600,000.00. Both shipments had the same destination, and have been made possible through a joint effort of Universal Aide in Canada, World Emergency Relief, and the Malawi Project in the United States, and the Namikango facility.

Malawi Ambulance during fuel shortageWithin days of their arrival Wilson Tembo, warehouse director, had the supplies and medicines ready for distribution. Medical facilities and doctors were contacted in all three regions of the country, and in spite of a serious fuel shortage, medical groups were able to find fuel and make the trip to Thondwe to pick them up. The event was quite newsworthy, and was covered by Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation, Television (MBC-TV), and the Zodiak Radio, Malawi (ZBS).

Included in the group picking up drugs and supplies was the Kamuzu Vocational Rehabilitation and Training Centre Clinic. This center is located deep in a remote part of southern Malawi. Opened in 1984, the center trains physically challenged people in different vocational venues, in order for them to become economically independent. It’s clinic serves the staff, students and village community surrounding its location, and treats over 200 patients a month. Drugs such as Albendazole, Amoxillin, Doxycline tablets, Multivitamins and SP were among the items arriving on the air shipment. These drugs help reduce the suffering of many people in area villages.

Another beneficiary of the drug shipment is the Malawi Prison system, and its headquarters facilities at the Zomba Central Prison. This facility is the biggest prison in the country, and is home to over 2,000 inmates. Like many other facilities in the country, the prison hospital lacks drugs, supplies and equipment. Unlike other Malawians who have the freedom to choose where to get medical attention, the inmates have little or no choice. This emphasizes the need for a continual flow of supplies to the prison. Moses Chigayo is the Malawi Prisons Services Clinical Officer, and is the official responsible for all prison infirmaries.

 

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/by-land-sea-and-air/feed/ 0 Day Fourteen http://www.malawiproject.org/day-fourteen/ http://www.malawiproject.org/day-fourteen/#comments Sat, 06 Aug 2011 12:21:37 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=949 Scott and I are winging our way back across the Atlantic as I reflect on the two weeks we have just spent in Malawi. It is the shortest time I have been there since 1995, and it seems like I just arrived and it was time to go to the airport for the flight back to the U.S. Because of the fuel shortage, and the demonstrations that turned bad, we had to cut of the plan to go to the northern part of the country. That is sad, as there were a number of people and programs we wanted to contact on this trip. It seems there just is never enough time to cover the entire country and do all of the things that need attention. Besides, I guess if we were to spend six months in country there would be just that many more places to visit and assist. Not enough time. Not enough funds. Guess it will just have to wait until the next trip, either late in the year, or early next year. Now it is time to focus on getting back to the states and beginning the trek around the country reporting on the state of the various programs the Malawi Project is currently assisting. For the first time in a long, long time I am comfortable in a middle seat on the airplane. We are still several hours out of Rome, where we will refuel for the across the Atlantic part of the trip, but with the much higher ceiling there is not the trapped feeling you get (for good reason, you are trapped!), in the older Boeing 747’s or the European Airbus.

By and large, even when you factor in the downtime for the fuel problems the entire trip, the lost luggage at the beginning of the trip, and the demonstrations that turned violent in the middle of the trip, we still had a very productive trip.

Namikango
Going to Namikango, even for just a short time, is always a delight. It will not be the same with the Thiesen family returning to the states in just a few days, but the Malawi staff is well trained, conscious and more than able to carry forward. Mark has spent the past year moving responsibility over to the staff, and from what I have seen they are and will continue to move successfully forward without missing a beat. A real compliment to them and to Mark and Era and the work there during the past 7 years.

Wilson, Basani, Roderick, Sampson, all of them, they are just doing a great job. The warehouse looks excellent, and the distribution network for medical supplies and wheelchairs continues to enlarge. It all looks good.

Cool Runnings
With another V-Tractor about to arrive Sam is really going to have her hands full. Don’t know how she does it. Two tractors, working closely with the Paratroop Battalion to complete the library, distributing wheelchairs, the successful work at the Safe Haven, the Cinderella Program, the widespread help through Clinic at the Gate, the community policing assistance, and all of the other things she is doing to help. Just one person, making such a difference.

Dzidalire
I’m really excited about the new hospital, and then there is the international school. It’s going to be our biggest project to date, and the people in the villages are already outrunning us with the work they are doing. Thousands of bricks already made, the road over the mountain, and 17,000 trees planted all over the mountain, they are just going all out to make this a reality.

Medicine and Medical Supplies
There is just so much more that is going on. The millions of dollars in medicines and medical supplies, and everything that brings to mind all over the country. It just makes my head swim to thing of it all. Wish we could have looked in on the other programs with which we have involvement. There are just too many. God is so good, and He has sure opened the door for us to help the people of Malawi. Wonder what will be next?

For me, I think I’m going to try to get some sleep before we reach Rome. Maybe this time I can sleep on this plane. The height of the luggage racks above our heads and down the center isle sure gives you the feeling of having a lot more space. This is the first time I have been in the center seat and felt even remotely comfortable. Guess we better make sure we are on 777’s from now on.

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/day-fourteen/feed/ 0 Day Five – Things Speed Up http://www.malawiproject.org/day-five-%e2%80%93-things-speed-up/ http://www.malawiproject.org/day-five-%e2%80%93-things-speed-up/#comments Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:12:27 +0000 admin http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=908 20 July – Malawi.

There is nothing like a tank of gas to get you on the move, speeding up, so to speak. Yes, that pun was intended. We are now determined to complete as much of our mission as possible in spite of the fuel shortage, and you will remember that we planned to go into Blantyre for Sunday services, lunch with church leaders, then off to Senga Bay where we were advised fuel had been stockpiled for us. It’s interesting how your mood changes when you find fuel for your car. No matter that it is nearly $12.00 a gallon. It is fuel and you can move again.

 On Sunday morning we left Namikango around 6:30 in the morning. Can you imagine that? Leaving at 6:30 to go to church services. Well, we did. We are trying to make an 8 AM worship service, and we don’t want to be so pressed we get the chance to visit with the now famous, radar patrol along the way. With all of the shortages of cash in the country there is little doubt the police are trying to do their part to balance the national budget. We don’t want to make a contribution today.

 It seems both Scott and I both left the states without our watches. Gives us the feeling of really fitting in with the locals. They don’t have watches either. Not sure what time it was when we went into the church building, but about 2 minutes after we entered the service started. It was scheduled to begin at 8 AM, but I was sure the first song must have actually taken place around 7:40. Not sure how to take that one, a church service starting early. Imagine!

 It had been noted to both of us the afternoon before that we would be “on the schedule” for the services. In other words, one of you will be preaching and the other will conduct the Lord’s Supper. Which one of us would do what part might have remained a secret except for our meeting on Saturday with one of the church elders. He spilled the beans, and noted I would be giving the lesson and Scott would be conducting the communion. Well, at least that gives us a couple of hours on Saturday night to prepare. Now, as the time for the sermon has reached that critical moment I wonder why I didn’t skip sleeping for the night and spend more time preparing the lesson. After a few songs, and a very long prayer for God to rescue the nation from its present plight I mentally scraped the lesson I had prepared, and folded up my notes and put them in my pocket. They just didn’t fit the crisis. I turned my attention to the moment Peter found himself sinking in the sea when he looked around himself and saw the wind, waves and rain. That seemed like a pretty good crisis on which to focus their attention. About 45 minutes later (they like long lessons), I wrapped up the lesson that helped bring focus on keeping your eyes on the goal when everything around you is falling apart. The idea of not taking your eyes off of Christ even when the wind, rain and waves are about to take you under. I guess you can’t hear the lesson because in this part of the world they don’t cut DVD’s of their sermons. In fact, they don’t even do CD’s. Scott did a great job with the communion. They actually give an entire hour for that part of the service. He didn’t take that long, but what he said was to the point and good.

 Finally by a little before 10 we were done. We could go to lunch. Right? Wrong! An elder whisked us in his car and we rushed off to someplace. Since I wasn’t driving I didn’t draw a map of our route. Couldn’t do it anyway, since so much of it was on unmarked roads, roads with no names. Really, no names. Only the locals know what tree is the one where you should turn. In fact, he made note of the fact that sometimes they will make note of things like a termite mound as a marker. Can you imagine, go to the fourth termite mound on the right and turn left? What a place.

Finally we reached the place that only he knew we were going, and got out of the vehicle in front of another church building. Guess you already have this one figured out don’t you? You are right. We are preaching and conducting the Lord’s Supper in another congregation. Great audience. Great time. And besides, the lesson is still pretty fresh in my mind since it has only been an hour since I delivered it at the last place. Without much thought I repeat the lesson about keeping ourselves grounded and focused when it comes to a crisis such as the one being faced in Malawi currently. At the conclusion of the service our guiding elder notes this congregation expects us to stand at the back door and greet each person as they come out of the building. Wow! And this is a pretty large congregation. Shaking hands over 200 times. Where is lunch when you need it?

Finally (I said that at the beginning of the last paragraph), we shook our last hand and smiled our last smile and climbed up in the vehicle. Off we go to lunch. Lunch, you say? It’s more of a royal feast. This is a part of Malawi I can’t explain to you. Guess you’ll just have to find a movie about the height of the time when the British were in Africa, and imagine some of the elegance and extravagance the movies portray of that age. I felt I back in that time when one of the elders, a well-respected lawyer in Malawi, took us to the Ryalls Hotel for lunch, or rather a royal feast. Its an elegant hotel established in 1921, and the next time you are in the area I recommend you give it a try.

 After the lunch and more discussions we got out on the road heading north toward Senga Bay around 4 PM. Since we had meant to leave for the Cool Runnings Lake Resort no later than 1:30, this means we are going to travel much of this trip in the dark. Oh well, that’s the way it goes. At least we are on the move. We have gas, enough to get to our destination, and that is good.

Third Report — From Dick Stephens and Scott Gordon- The Webmaster

]]> http://www.malawiproject.org/day-five-%e2%80%93-things-speed-up/feed/ 0 Lilongwe Minister Receives Wheelchair http://www.malawiproject.org/lilongwe-minister-receives-wheelchair/ http://www.malawiproject.org/lilongwe-minister-receives-wheelchair/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:59:48 +0000 Richard Stephens http://www.malawiproject.org/?p=818 Minister Receives a WheelchairLilongwe, Malawi … Mr. Makhuwila is a religious leader on the northwest side of the City of Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. Recently he lost the use of his legs. Even though he lives in the largest city in this poverty-ravished nation it does not help him get around in order to carry out his ministerial duties. Streets are without sidewalks. Many of the streets are little more than pothole, laced dirt paths. Cars have a difficult time negotiating these corridors, let alone someone in a wheelchair. And wheelchairs, there are very few wheelchairs, and very few people have the funds with which to purchase one. The poor are everywhere, and the need for wheelchairs finds unimaginable numbers of people waiting for every wheelchair that makes its way into this forgotten part of the world. With only a single orthopedic hospital in the country there is little that can be done for the large numbers of people who are handicapped. For Mr. Makhuwila there was little that could change his hopeless situation after he joined the position of the handicapped.

The entire situation changed with a single wheelchair, thanks to a cooperative program being that is being carried out between four aid groups. It started with the Free Wheelchair Mission in Irvine, California, an international aid organization distributing wheelchairs around the world. The Wheelchair Mission has joined hands with the Malawi Project to deliver 2,300 wheelchairs to Malawi over a four-year period. The Malawi Project, in turn, focuses its attention on helping a number of in-country organizations with agricultural, medical and educational aid, including wheelchairs. Two of these organizations are the Namikango Mission and Maternity Hospital in southern Malawi, and the Dzidalire Community Development Agency in Dedza, Malawi. A single wheelchair started passing along through all of these hands until it finally arrived in the Dzidalire Agency, who moved it along to Mr. Makhuwila. A long trip and a lot of hands, but success was achieved through the efforts of all of these groups.

Mr. Makhuwila expresses his appreciation to the Malawi Project, and in turn to all of these groups, for the wheel chair. He was overwhelmed with joy with his wheelchair. He said, “I am very happy because the Malawi Project, through Mama Kadzamira has come to my rescue. I was unable to move around during the past six months. They have now given me a wheelchair that will enable me to move around and continue pursuing my pastoral work among people of Area 25. I thank the Lord for his mercy and the gift of the wheel chair. May God bless the Malawi Project, and Dzidalire Community Development Agency.”

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