Thank-you: We know our last newsletter was a tough read and are very grateful to the positive response it received. To those of you who give, who have made a new donation, or who have increased your regular giving: Thank-you. It means a lot to us to know you are with us on our journey to bring opportunities to vulnerable people in Malawi. There’s still time to do so if you are able, using the Donate link at the bottom of this newsletter.
We have been working in partnership with St Andrew’s Hospital in Mtunthama for many years now. Our support has taken various shapes. It has included helping to fund vital equipment on site like X-ray facilities; supporting outreach programmes including eye clinics and emergency relief; and mentoring their business plans to move towards self-sufficiency for operational costs. We recently received an update on the impact our partnering has achieved, and we’d like to share some of that with you here:
Comparing data for the year to March 2024 with the year to March 2025, in just a selection of fields:
– The male ward inpatient treatments rose by 79% from 210 to 377 patients.
– The paediatric ward treated 448 patients, up from 301 (up 49%).
– Ultrasound scanning and ante-natal services increased by 10%.
– X-rays were a new facility and treated 262 patients.
– Critically, the immunisation service increased by 27%; in a country where transmittable diseases are rife and healthcare limited or inaccessible from rural sectors, this is fundamental to reducing health risks.
– One of the most active departments of the hospital is maternity seeing over 3,300 patients, an increase of nearly 40% from the year before. St Andrew’s has maintained its nil record for maternal deaths, and reduced neonatal deaths by 30% to 8 individuals, delivery 1069 babies successfully.
This is just a snapshot; but the indication is that overall appointments and procedures have increased by 18% year on year, demonstrating efficiency and capacity increases.
Dr Kadima, the chief clinician, concludes: ‘The Hospital aims at becoming an icon of excellence in Health service provision for all people in the catchment area and beyond. This included advancement towards increasing the quality of essential health package services, improvement of clinical efficiency and service delivery, and reorganization of leadership to ensure solid management of resources, accountability, and the strengthening of care and health infrastructure.’
Supporters’ visit: Would you like to see our work in action?
We are making a plan to take a small group of supporters out to Malawi to meet our team and see the work taking place on the ground that is being delivered by your funding. This will include visits to projects in the community including Chalizya Primary School, St Andrew’s Hospital, and Roots of Hope communities; you’ll get to see the beauty of the country as we travel through. It is likely to be a 7-12 day trip. All transport, accommodation and food will be organised, although flights may be self-booked.
The visit will have to be self-funded and could cost in the region of £2,000 – £2,500 per person (including return flights out of London).
We are currently looking at an itinerary and fleshing out the plans, and invite expressions of interest from anyone who might wish to join us. It will be a limited-place trip. If you might be interested in coming please complete the form below before March 27th.
Express your interest by emailing us at director@medicmalawi.org