Medical Programs

A critical need for health care assistance is evident throughout Malawi. The nationwide system of universal healthcare, put in place in the 1960s, and70’s, has been unable to keep pace with the demands of a population that has grown from four million to 18 million in the past 50 years. Adding to the population explosion has been the advent of HIV/Aids, the continued onslaught of malaria, tuberculosis, malnutrition, cholera, and other diseases and problems that are absent, or more fully controlled in western medical communities.

The critical nature of the need was recognized in the early 90s, and its fulfillment helped form a major focus for the Malawi Project. From its earliest year’s doctors, nurses and other medical personnel from first world nations formed teams working in the warm heart of Africa. Still today, as a result of the foundation laid by the Malawi Project, medical teams continue to offer assistance in various parts of the country.

In the first phase of medical programming, one-on-one assistance was extended to individual villages, trading centers, and rural hospitals. Phase two saw the creation of a well-supplied, Malawi staffed, 5-building, 110-bed, medical complex near the capital city of Lilongwe. Here first world medical personnel could base their operations. Supplies and equipment stored and staged at this facility were distributed to a number of individual medical facilities, primarily in the central and southern regions of the country.  Phase three has seen the enlargement of a nationwide outreach to government-run facilities, with supplies going into over 600 facilities.

Medical Supplies

Through more than a quarter of a century, the distribution of medical equipment, supplies, and medicine has been the largest program of the Malawi Project. While a portion of the supplies has gone to private, and non-governmental facilities, the bulk of the shipments have gone directly to rural, district, and level one government facilities. By and large, private facilities have outside funding and resources, while government facilities have no source beyond the cash-starved government. While government facilities are the most neglected, the bulk of the population, especially the poor, pass through the government system.

The U.S. based Malawi Project enjoys a relationship with the government allowing it direct access to individual facilities through our sister organization in Malawi, Action for Progress. This policy has been in place for 27 years and ensures supplies and equipment continue to reach the poor. In 2019, working with Action for Progress, a major new distribution hub was completed just west of the capital city of Lilongwe, ensuring sufficient space for storage, staging, and distribution of supplies nationwide.

Over the years, shipments have included top of the line equipment such as x-ray and ultrasound units, kidney dialysis machines, surgical tables, and state of the art diagnostic equipment. General items like beds, mattresses, over-bed tables, nightstands, and lighting supplies have helped upgrade wards and individual patient rooms. Bulk supplies that have shipped include medical protective gloves, operating room gowns, and items as simple as burn ointment, band-aids, gauze, and tape. Mops, brooms, and cleaning supplies for wards and operating theaters also make their way on these 40-foot cargo containers.

Medical Stories

PPE SUPPLIES REACH MZUZU

Mzuzu, Malawi … The nation of Malawi is living under an increasing intensity of fear and pressure because of the rapidly increasing number of COVID -19 cases. A recent contribution of PPE supplies from America is making an impact.  With its recent arrival at the Lilongwe distribution hub Action for Progresstraveled to Mzuzu to deliver supplies, including…

TEMPTED BY GREED

Indianapolis, Indiana … In recent weeks the U.S. has been alarmingly awakened with race relations problems caused by the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As marches for justice sprung up around the country, another problem appeared at the same time. This problem is greed. Linked with the marches taking place in city…

BUSINESS STRUGGLES AS HER MOBILITY STRUGGLES

Kausiwa Village, Malawi … It has been fourteen years since that fateful day when Chrissy Ludaviko, now 45 years old, felt the weakness in her legs. She recalls going to the doctor because of its severity, and they confirmed there was a problem, but they could not determine the cause nor could they recommend a…

HEALTH RISKS INCREASE DUE TO SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES

Lilongwe, Malawi … Health systems are becoming stretched beyond their limit each day because of the increased ill-health among the population. The World seems turned on its head as each nation looks for ways to reduce the effects of the COVID-19. Cases are increasing rapidly worldwide.              At the writing of this report, the global confirmed…

MEDICAL SHIPMENTS ARRIVE - DISTRIBUTION BEGINS

Lilongwe, Malawi … In recent weeks three forty-foot shipping containers arrived at the Lilongwe Distribution Hub delivering large amounts of critically needed supplies. Offloading was handled by Action for Progress, the not-for-profit partner organization to the Malawi Project. It’s executive director, Wilson Tembo, has worked with the Malawi Project since 1999, and in 2018 assisted in the…

CRITICALLY NEEDED SHIPMENT BEING PREPARED

Indianapolis, Indiana … “We have the greatest fear and deepest concern for the people of Malawi, as the threat of the coronavirus continues to increase in Sub-Saharan Africa,” warns Suzi Stephens, Medical Director for the Malawi Project. “Even in the most advanced countries in the world medical capability has been strained almost beyond their capability. It appears only…

COVID-19 MAKES IT REAL

Indianapolis, Indiana … For many people in the U.S., the critical need for protective masks and gloves was not a part of surviving the next day. This was something new as a major pandemic spread across the nation. People in the medical profession understood the life-saving nature of these items, while few in the general…

STORAGE UNIT FILLING FAST

Lebanon, Indiana … With the coronavirus just beginning to gain a foothold in Malawi, and with the lack of medical protective supplies, support staff, and hospital beds, one can conclude the people there are facing a critical situation.  Shipments of medical supplies will be arriving at the Action for Progress distribution hub in the next…

MOBILITY AT ATTENTION

Lilongwe, Malawi … It is mid-morning, and the African sun is staring down through the high windows, and across the floor on the east side of the building. Their penetrating light is scattered across a number of mobility units sitting in parade fashion across the southern end of the giant structure. They are quietly waiting…

TWENTY-SIX YEARS & COUNTING

Blantyre, Malawi … Ireen had been working as a nurse in the health care field for twenty-six years when suddenly in 2016 it all ended. She was struck with a devastating stroke, and found herself no longer able to provide for herself, or carry out a second business she needed for income. Not only was…

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