African Mission Healthcare Foundation

Background:  Northern Malawi’s medical system is underdeveloped.  Quality care is rare.  An established and respected institution, Ekwendeni Hospital (Central Church of Africa Presbyterian) serves a population of 200,000.  The facility sees 10,000 outpatients and 8,000 inpatients annually.

Project:  The financial crisis caused the hospital’s traditional donors to reduce commitments.  In 2009, a ship carrying medicines and supplies from Europe sank.  The hospital has still not fully recovered.  AMHF is stepping in to buy $13,000 worth of antibiotics and anti-malarials, a supply adequate for approximately six months.  Some 6000 clients will benefit, at a cost of just over $2 per patient.

Oversight:  Dr. Martha Sommers has served in northern Malawi for a dozen years.  Medication purchases will be made through AMHF partner facility Partners in Hope and distributed to Ekwendeni.

Future:  Depending on the hospital’s financial situation and the response of its traditional donors, AMHF may need to purchase additional medications at the end of 2011.  A currently unbudgeted allocation, funding would be sought for such a project.