Forty Foot Container Arrives at Kachere
“It is really a help,” notes Mrs. Nthewere one of the nurses at the Kachere Rehabilitation Centre near the south side of Blantyre, Malawi. “So many of the patients are very needy and the soap, toothpastes and clothes will see them through. In addition the beds we had were in bad need of repair. Some of the patients, especially the quadriplegics (patients who have lost control of both arms and legs) found it hard to change positions. The coming of the new adjustable beds in this shipment brings a big change to these patients.” Mrs. Nthewere was referring to a recent shipment of medical supplies that reached the handicap facility from the Malawi Project.
One beneficiary Edwin Matenda, a 23-year-old patient whose arms, trunk, and legs were paralyzed following a fall from height over 2 months ago, also echoed the advantages of the adjustable beds. “I can now ask somebody to adjust it for me so I can be brought to a sitting position. I can breathe better and eat well when I am sitting. Life was difficult on the previous bed. Thanks for the change”, Edwin says.
“I often fed him in lying position because I couldn’t support his weight in sitting while feeding,” said her widowed mother who is his guardian at the institution. ‘This often led to serious choking. But this bed has changed everything. He is fed nicely and it’s lively talking to him in a sitting position.” said the smiling mother. “For the clothes, at first it was difficult when he soiled a pair of clothes he had before. He would have only a bed sheet while the only set of clothes were being dried. Now I can change his clothes comfortably”, said the mother. “Being a widow and caring for him full time at the rehabilitation centre life is difficult. It is not easy to even get the basic needs. ‘Thank God’, soap, toothpaste and the rest of the things that we have received will help us,” said the mother.
According to G. Chimatiro, the Administrator of the center, “Treating patients with so many needs that we cannot meet is always tough. The trailer of supplies that have been donated came at the right time.”
Contributors who assisted the Malawi Project in getting the supplies to Malawi made the 40-foot trailer of orthopedic and medical supplies possible. The shipment left the United States in October and arrived in Malawi in late January.