Mnzumanza Village

Wednesday we went to Mnzumanza village, outside area 25, near Lilongwe. Ione Podgore has a project there where she feeds 750 children breakfast and lunch, along with Kathi Nunley who helps with the hostel for secondary school girls (food, shelter, etc). Anyone interested in either of these projects, please contact me. Remember that the statistics show 75% of Malawian girls /women are sexually molested during their lifetime. Girls walking long distances to school are at risk (along with the difficulty in rainy season, etc). Having a safe place, close to school is a huge benefit for these girls.
We set up the clinic in the dining hall, which they use mainly as a gathering place for meetings, etc. The kids usually eat outside when the weather is nice. The team was Joey Swartz and Nancy McGlawn, RNs, then newly minted MD from the UK, Claire, along with a premed student from Mississippi. Charles Msukwa helped organize it, and we had the awesome talents of two of our regular translators, Lewis and Jollyn. We saw 154 patients. Ty did almost 100 malaria tests and about 2/3 were positive. Malaria seems to be hanging on this year, longer than usual. We also saw an assortment of other illnesses, including a lot of chronic problems, especially GBP (general body pain). When you live a life of hard work, hoeing, carrying everything from water to firewood to maize on your head, you tend to have neck and back pain.  Thankfully, we only saw one child who I think was malnourished. I am sure that is due to the feeding program that Ione has started!  Enjoy the photos.

Claire checking a patient. Hand's on thermometers! We need extra help next year, folks! We can teach you to take temps / BPs and do malaria tests / count pills! You don't have to have skills, you just need a willing heart!

Three cuties in the village!

Lining up to be seen.

This little old lady was so weak she was having her granddaughter help her. Ty saw them coming and ran outside to help her. She had malaria and had become dehydrated due to vomiting and diarrhea, along with fever. Fortunately I had some of the powdered pedialyte and we were able to orally start rehydration, along with antiemetics and malaria medication. We have used the pedialyte before and it seems to be more enjoyable than the ORS.

Breakfast anyone?

Me examining a patient with neck pain.

Nancy McGlawn examining patients  preparing for wound care.

Joey Swartz and her local translator, Stock, handing out meds in the pharmacy.

Ty doing malaria testing.

Checking a BP on an elderly patient.

Clarie and I consulting on a case.

Fungal infections are always present, this one was pretty bad.

Claire examining a patient.

Joey Swartz lending her expertise to Ty with the malaria testing.

Me explaining something to a patient, with Jollyn (translator) looking on.

Ty doing malaria testing.

This little guy looks to have microcephaly. Mom states he responds to sound but does not speak, He is over 2 years old. Pray for him!

Thanks for all the prayers. Remember to contact me if you wish to support the projects here in this village. Also, you can always support me through Global Health Innovations, just send a check with a note that it is for my Malawi mission project. Thanks!