Villages in Partnership

Poverty in Malawi

Medical Blog

Zomba Central Hospital Experience

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Going into Zomba Central Hospital, we had no idea what to expect. It was an eye opening experience that we will never forget. Walking up to the buildings, they looked run-down compared to the standards we are used to in the States. There were people walking around the grounds, almost like it was a bustling marketplace. We had the opportunity to meet with the specialists at the hospital, as well as the chief nursing executor. We had wonderful conversations about the challenges that the hospital faces, as well as the progress they have made. We then were fortunate enough to go on a tour of the hospital.

We were shocked at the nurse to patient ratio—one nurse to 20-40 patients on a good day. Each ward consisted of one large room, with multiple beds inside. It’s hard to put into words the conditions of the patients and their families there. So much of what we take for granted in the States—clean gloves, gowns, isolation precautions, sometimes electricity & private rooms—was lacking. We returned from the visit humbled and with a new appreciation for the healthcare system that we are blessed with in the States. The frustrations we are used to at home regarding healthcare do not even scratch the surface of the healthcare system here and what we were exposed to today. We all walked away forever changed.

Written By: Allie Schindler and Molly Babb, Xavier Nursing Students

Taking Vitals on a Chief

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Today at Clinic I had the wonderful opportunity to care for a Chief of one of the villages that we were serving. All of a sudden this woman was brought to the front of the line and sat down right away. I was then informed by my interpreter that she was a chief. Knowing how important she was I got very nervous as I was taking her vitals. She was honestly one of the friendliest women that I had met so far. She was extremely grateful for the care that I was providing and spoke to me very enthusiastically and friendly. Once I had gotten her vitals and taken down her chief complaint it was time to send her on her way. I enthusiastically shook her hand and thanked her for all that she did. Taking vitals for the chief today was one of the coolest things I have done since coming to Malawi.

Written By: Katelyn Wnek

Grateful Through the Storm – By Tessa Mills

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After church we hopped in the truck to go and visit some people around Sakata whose houses had melted (literally) from the rain and floods of Malawi’s rainy season. The houses are made out of mud bricks, that are hardened from being in the sun, but unfortunately they simply don’t stand a chance against the torrents of water that gushed towards them.

The first house we visited, an entire half of the house gone, the resident, and older Malawian woman told us how she now had to live with her daughter. The second house, a young couple – the wife expecting – had their house collapse while they were inside sleeping! Praise the Lord no one was hurt, however, their entire backside of the house had melted away, and the roof was structurally unstable, not even safe enough to stand under. They were also forced to find other housing accommodations. Standing next to their collapsed houses, these people did not complain or cry, but simply found other solutions and carried on.

It’s shocking and amazing to watch how resilient the Malawian people are – they have no help when disasters like this come, no government aid, no temporary housing solutions, no resources to rebuild. Yet, they continue to exude joy and gratefulness. How convicted I felt of my complaining about much smaller issues.

Written by: Tessa Mills, Xavier Nursing Student

An Unforgettable Worship Experience

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Going to church for 3 hours was never a desire of mine, but I have never laughed, smiled, danced, and sang at the top of my lungs (not well, mind you) as much as I did during those 3 hours. The happiness, the joy, the faith, the love, and the hope was overflowing out of the small sanctuary and was something beyond inspiring. I have never felt God’s presence within a community as much as I did being surrounded by the villagers, dressed in their best and greeting us warmly. In the words of Liz, the best word to describe it was truly agape. It was pure undeniable love, hope, and belief that even in the hardest of times, God will provide. Just as our reading taught us, even when we struggle and begin to sink, God will always be with us. In Malawi we are surrounded by those who have nothing and struggle day to day to survive, to feed and protect their families, and yet they have the most faith and joy in God’s grace. You will never know a stranger in Malawi, only friends. My poor singing is nothing to be sought after, but seeing the room light up when we started to sing our song in Chichewa is something I will cherish forever. We were truly marching in the light of God (Hallelujah!).

Written by: Rachel Hesse, Xavier Nursing Student

A Malawian Village Experience – By Jessica Spady

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Today was my first initial day in a Malawian village called Liti. Here, I am pictured with a group of amazing children who thought I spoke Chichewa, the Malawian language, because of the color of my skin. They were eating pumpkin and offered me some, and wondered why I wasn’t responding. I told the translator to inform them that I was American, but, I’d love to learn their language. They asked me to stay, I told them I’d be back next year in which they replied, “that’s too long”. The children here are so joyful and full of life. I am so grateful to have this opportunity experience the culture and tradition of the Malawian village.

Written By: Jessica Spady, Nurse

A Medical Miracle – by Kaitlin Duncan

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This July, I returned to Malawi with VIP for my second medical trip. As a nursing student, I had experience with patients and hospitals, but never imagined a healthcare system like Malawi’s. When you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, it’s hard to fathom why you should care about a mosquito net over your bed or why you should get that sore on your leg looked at. You do your best to survive in an unforgiving environment with little resources. Malawi’s hospitals differ so greatly requiring family members to support the patients’ needs including meals while getting treatment. Going to the hospital as a mother means leaving your children home alone or with a relative to care for them. Going to the hospital as a child means having a family member come and cook for you. The hospital means taking time away from harvesting fields and providing food for your family. Treatment is often withheld until the disease progresses, making it even more difficult to treat.

My first day in the medical clinic my instructor, Lucy Goeke, said that I was needed to help a patient that just arrived. She told me the patient was an injured young girl named Aristina and that I should prepare myself. I entered the room with another instructor, Jackie, and immediately was taken aback. The young girl was my age, in her early 20’s. The mother told us, through our interpreter, that the girl was epileptic, suffered a seizure, and fell into a fire. Her shirt was holding on by threads as the fire had devoured the skin on both of her arms and even more so on the girl’s chest and breasts. She was covered in blisters as the burn had just taken place earlier that morning. We were limited so we applied ointment to the blisters and kept them from drying to the bandages we placed to keep infection out. The next day she returned and we were able to debride the burns and clean the edges to allow for new skin to grow. Another day passed until we saw the girl again. She seemed in much better spirits as the burns were feeling less painful. We set her up with dressings and arranged for her to return weekly to meet with a Villages in Partnership clinician. VIP employees and several clinicians came to continue care and meet with the most vulnerable patients. Leaving the girl in the hands of a Malawian clinician made it much easier since we had trust in their work. I received an update about five months later showing her progress and that only made me want to return to see her more.

Returning to Malawi this past July, I was amazed to see Aristina in such good spirits along with her family. We were welcomed to sit with her and the family as we conversed over how the past year had gone. Her burns were fully healed and she was smiling from ear to ear, something that I had yet to see. The mother said that Aristina stopped talking after the incident since it was so traumatic to her, but recently started talking again. Aristina faces many obstacles living in a rural village, but because of the care she received from the VIP clinicians, infection will not be one of them. When VIP asked the villages what they could do for this region, they responded saying the number one resource needed is access to healthcare. Building a clinic nearby means quicker access and less detrimental outcomes for villagers. The clinics treat illness along with disease and help with prevention including of fetal abnormalities and sickness by providing prenatal care through VIP’s partnership with Vitamin Angels. The clinics also offer access dental care. The dental clinic grows each year, continually advancing. Not only has VIP been able to remove teeth through these clinics but now they have been able to save people’s teeth and conduct cleanings. VIP supports thousands of Malawians and I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of a wonderful team enriched with heartwarming people.

Shawna Whitford

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I have a dream.  My dream is to make a positive difference in someone’s life and that the act will be remembered.
That’s hard to do when you are a person who is perfectly happy to be in the background.  I won’t be front and center.  I’m not an adrenaline junky.  If life was a movie set, I would be the lighting person.  Equally important role, but who sticks around reading the credits for the lighting persons name?  If you see me, I will be in the back, quietly helping and working.  I will work even harder to stay out of the spotlight.
So, how will I make a positive difference to one person in the background?
I am in Malawi, when another support member of the group is questioning her role.  Why am I here?  What am I doing to make a difference?  She looks around and looks at the medical staff like they are more valued.  This hits me hard as I often feel the same way and I am medical.  I want to offer words of comfort, but I know those words will not help.  It is the same words spoken to me and I still have those insecurities and self doubt.  As the days pass this is still weighing on me.  She has value, every step of this is dependent on her role.  She plans and organizes.  Without that we wouldn’t be here to do the part we do.  I also know those words won’t help as I have heard them and I know it to be true but the self doubt remains.  
I am in Kalupe, working the pharmacy.  It is the end of the last day of clinic.  It is busy and I am only vaguely aware of my surrounding.  I glance up and a Malawian women is eyeing me, she strides with purpose and her eyes never drop from my glance.  She approached with haste and begins speaking her native Chichewa.  She speaks fast and with passion.  I cannot understand.  I immediately think, I forgot to give her something, she feels she was not treated appropriately, what did I miss?  I call for my Malawian interpreter Lucy.
“Lucy! I need you to tell me what she is saying.”
Conversation begins in Chichewa and once again I am lost from the conversation.
Lucy turns to me and says…
“She wants you to know that she remembers you from last year.  She came in with severe malaria.  Because of you and the other American’s she received medications.  She says thank you.  She says you saved her life and wants you to know she is fine.”
Tears form quickly and we embrace each other.
It takes a village to care for a village.  It takes people with different talents and passions, who can work together to achieve a common goal.
In the background, I was remembered.  Life goal achieved thanks to God, this team, and VIP.
Thank you to everyone on this team for your talent, support, and friendship.  We are now family.


“Alone we can do so little; Together we can do so much”  –  Helen Keller
Written by Shawna Whitford

A Happy Man Lives Long – By Jordan Heinzel-Nelson

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When we walk into the dusty clearing surrounding a quaint little hut, an old man hobbles out to meet us. He calls something in rapid Chichewa to a couple boys nearby. They run and grab some burlap sacks on which we sit to avoid getting our cloths too dusty.

After we are seated, he totters over and greets each of us. After greetings, he sits to talk. The sweetest eyes peer out from his round face and a toothless smile stretches from ear to ear. We are immediately charmed.

We are here for a home-visit, an essential part of every trip to Malawi – even for the medical team. Amidst the busy days of clinic, it is important to find time to come, be present, and chat with some of the most vulnerable families. It invites insight into the lives of people who live without secure food sources, without dry spaces on which to sleep, without clean water.

Today we are visiting Levision Dulana at Mpoola village. I am with my Mom, a team member named Carol, and our translator, Sydney.

“We are here to learn a little bit about your life,” Carol tells him. “Is it ok if we ask you some questions?” (Sydney is translating everything).

“Of course, it is fine,” he replies.

“Who lives with you?”

“A 13 year-old grandson, but he is gone now for Chinamwale in the Simba.”

Chinamwale is the initiation of boys to men – they are circumcised at the beginning and then spend a month secluded in a tent with men, learning about many… things. I shudder imagining this traumatizing experience as a 13-year-old.

We talk for some time – his story is like many others. He lives alone because his wife left when he grew too ill to work. He did not harvest enough food to last the year. He lives with the boy because he cannot care for himself. But the community helps him, sending aid. He is still not sure how he will make it. God will provide.

Finally, my Mom returns to the initial conversation. “Abambo, can you tell us about chinamwale? Or is it a secret? What do you learn there?”

To all who venture to Malawi, I encourage you to spend time with my Mom – she asks the best questions!

“They teach the boys to respect their elders. They tell them they must work hard or women will not like them. But I can tell you nothing else.” He chuckles. “There are many things regarding women!”

“Do you expect your grandson to be a better helper when he returns? More respectful?”

“Of course!”

When conversation dies down, we ask him if he has any questions for us. Questions about our lives, America. He retorts – “I have never left this village! How should I know what I should ask?” He laughs some more.

At the end of the visit, we present him with some gifts, including a pair of soccer cleats. He lights up. Although he can barely shuffle around the house, he tells us he is an avid soccer player. The toothbrush makes him smile even more – “I have only 1 tooth – it will be a clean one!” He points to the back of his mouth.

As we take leave, my Mom takes a picture of us together. “Will you bring me this photo so I can tell my friends that I hosted azungu (white people)?”

“We will try – next time we come, maybe we will dance together because the vitamins will make you so strong.”

“Next time you come, I will be on the football pitch!” He says, bent at a right angle because he cannot support his body upright. He sends us off with his laughter echoing through the air.

A few days ago, Sokoso, our veterinary officer, told me that a happy man lives long. I think this old man has many years yet to live.

 

The Warm Heart of Africa – by Justin Laudick

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I first agreed to the medical mission trip this spring during our Nurse Practitioner white coat ceremony at Xavier. As far as I knew at that time, we were treating Malawian patients at four remote clinics who would normally not receive any form of healthcare. In the trip information it mentioned unfathomable volumes, extremely ill patients, and needed resources that were not readily available. I had my sight on a mission trip for quite some time, and this seemed like an appropriate scenario given my background working as an ER nurse and Trauma Program Manager for a busy rural hospital.

Set up and necessary preparations felt overwhelming as myself and other healthcare providers recognized a long list of drugs that we do not typically utilize in the United States, along with ones we did not have with us. Of course, we not only had to have a crash course on prescribing these foreign medications, we had to be able to recognize diseases such as Malaria, Shistosomiasis, and my favorite, gastrointestinal “worms”! It was quickly notable that the several veteran staff working with us have been experienced who guided us through the learning process, especially Lucy Goeke who was extremely knowledgeable and just a fantastic teacher.

I was assigned as a provider (or prescriber here) to the Nkumbira clinic, and the clinic days were very busy and could almost be recognized as slightly overwhelming most of the time. Throughout the three days we evaluated, treated, and provided medications to over 4,500 patient’s. The Malawi culture is one of dignity, respect, and civil fortitude. Well over a hundred patients were patiently waiting outside for us every morning with their medical passport- the only form of their medical record in their hands to openly share with strange providers. Not at any time were the patients disrespectful, have a sense of entitlement, nor demand any form of treatments and/or medications. Even though we were working under extreme pressure with providers we never seen before, each and every person walked into the clinic with the same goal to help make a difference in complete strangers’ lives, no matter how small.

The goal of the clinics is to do the most good for the most amount of people with limited resources. It was quite evident that a simple referral to the hospital was almost impossible for most, therefore all but life threatening cases needed handled in the one room clinic which did not have electricity nor running water. I will remember many cases forever, including those with a poor prognosis- knowing the feeling that some would not survive even with our best efforts will be there. The feeling of having to cut away dead tissue, make incisions and drain wounds without lidocaine or anesthesia just knowing that it has to be done to give patients a chance at beating infections. Finding recurrent Malaria in a child who’s spleen was so large it consumed a third of her abdomen, and feeling responsible to make the appropriate decisions in their care again to give them their best chance. Providing medications and draining infection from a foot to a child who could not walk due to the infection, having him return the next two days of clinic to see him walk again the last day. Seeing the comfort, joy and shear appreciation in the patients eyes each day made everything we did as a team made me feel overwhelmingly humble.

 

A quick shoutout should also be sent to Liz (Executive Director of VIP), Jordan (Liz’s daughter and extremely talented leader), and Lucy (Medical Team Leader and organizer) as none of the amazing work we completed as a team would have been remotely possible without you!

Joy in the Midst of Sickness – by Sarah Herr

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I close my eyes and listen to my fellow Malawian VIP team member recite a prayer in chechewa at the start of my first day of clinics. All I could think about was that I, an American nursing student, would be providing care for the sickest of sick and I had no idea what I was doing. My mind was racing in a thousand directions and I was overwhelmed. As the work began at our clinics, we started off at a slow pace. As I took vitals, I made sure to look each patient in the eye to say “muli bwanji” – “how are you.” The connections I made with each patient helped me get through my work in triage. Our work progressed and as we began to work efficiently as a group, we were able to make deeper connections with our patients.

When doing vitals, I saw a little girl with her grandmother who flashed me a smile. I could see it in her face that she was ill and in pain. My translator and I asked the grandmother what the little girl’s chief complaint was and she told us she had a fever, headache, and stomach pain. As the grandmother was explaining the symptoms, the little girl brushed her hand up against mine to hold it. As I held her in my arms I could feel her distended belly and her pain. The grandmother then explained how the little girl had a twin sister who passed away from the same symptoms and she was worried about this twin getting sick. She explained how her mother left after her twin sister passed away because she was so sad and was now in the grandmothers care. As tears rolled down her eyes, we comforted the grandmother as she told us her story. The well being of her grandchild was secondary to the rashes and burns all over her body. The story of this family and the care I provided on the first day will be something I will never forget. Each Malawian smile, tear and heartbeat I heard were all joyful in the midst of sickness.

  • written by Sarah Herr

A Helping Hand – by Allie Schumacher

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This medical mission trip has proved to be one incredible journey. This is my first time in Africa, first time doing a mission trip, and my first time being a part of the Villages in Partnership. To say I was overwhelmed, at first, is an understatement. I had moments of pure doubt in myself, but knowing that I am doing all that I can for the Malawians truly is something special. The team has been such an incredible group of people all coming together to do something bigger than ourselves. Being in the clinics truly put everything in full circle of how we are helping these people. I am so thankful to be a part of trip, to be here with the team, and to help in any way I can. The clinics can be overwhelming with so many people who need relief and are in pain, and to be able to help these people is nothing short of amazing. To be a part of a group that is doing all that they can for others with nothing in return is phenomenal. In the clinic, today, I met this young girl with a deep wound on her leg. The entire time we were washing, cleaning, and bandaging this wound, the girl made no sound. However, you can see it in her face that she was in extreme pain. It is this kind of bravery and courage that kept me going throughout the day. The Malawians are such strong and incredible people, and I am so blessed to be able to give them my time and energy in order to give them better outcomes. What a trip so far!

VIP Donors Give The Gift of Sight!

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Last month our medical team treated a young boy with bulging, watery eyes. He was diagnosed with glaucoma, a build-up of fluid and pressure inside his eyes. If left untreated, the pressure would end up damaging his optic nerve, rendering him permanently blind. He was already experiencing deteriorating vision when our team examined him, and they knew that they would have to act quickly if they were going to save his eyesight. Unfortunately, with the thousands of patients that came to our clinics every day, our team was not able to find the right medicine for the boy while on the ground in Malawi. But Lucy Goeke, a VIP Board Member and the head of our medical team, kept thinking about the boy on her flight home and was determined to save his vision.

Lucy visited several Ophthalmologists when she returned to the United States, describing to them the boy’s condition and asking what could be done to help him. On the day that VIP Executive Director Liz Heinzel-Nelson was scheduled to return to the U.S. Lucy was told what medicine to get to treat the boy’s glaucoma and she emailed Liz the information. Liz received the email on her way to the airport to catch her flight home and immediately made a detour, stopping at several pharmacies until she found one with the right medicine. Thanks to Lucy’s persistence, Liz’s determination and the help of the VIP staff in delivering the medicine to his mother, the young boy received three months’ supply of the medicine to treat his glaucoma.

Unfortunately, while glaucoma is a very treatable disease, it requires a lifetime of care to keep it under control. In order to save his eyesight the boy would need to continue to take the medicine for the rest of his life. But of course the lifetime cost of the medicine would be far more than his family could ever hope to pay. And sadly this happens all too often to people living in extreme poverty. The medicine and procedures exist to help them, but they don’t have the money to pay for them. So instead of having their diseases treated, they go blind, lose their teeth, or a limb, and sometimes even their lives. In fact, Dr. Geoff Tabin, Co-Founder of the Himalayan Cataract Project, highlighted the tragic relationship between blindness and death in the developing world: “You know, once someone goes blind in a developing world, their life expectancy is about one-third that of age and health matched peers. And for a blind child, the life expectancy is five years. And also in the developing world, it takes, often, a person out of the work force, or a child out of school, to care for the blind person. So when we restore sight to a blind person, we’re freeing up their family and restoring their life.”

Fortunately, this story, and many others that VIP is involved in, ends differently than many others in the developing world. Bryan and Jeff Clippinger, the sons of Registered Nurse, Jackie Clippinger, formed a wonderful bond with this young boy while they were in Malawi on the medical trip, and their family has agreed to pay for his glaucoma medication for the rest of his life! Thanks to the actions of our Medical team and the incredible generosity of the Clippinger family, this young boy will have his eyesight, and perhaps his life, saved!

Xavier Nursing Student Maria Hill Shares Her First Day in Malawi as a Member of The 2017 VIP Medical Team

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Greetings from the beautiful country of Malawi!
Our first full day was filled with organization, team collaboration, prayers, and meeting new people. We began our day, at least I did, to the rooster calling bright and early. The first half of our day we unpacked all of our generous donations and organized them. Then the wonderful Malawian medics arrived where we all met, got to know each other, talked about the clinics we will be at, and became friends with one another. The people of Malawi are such warm spirited people who make you feel incredibly welcomed. I have shaken more hands in one day than I have in a year. The friendship and relationships here are beautiful and easy to create with the joyous people. The second half of our day we were humbled with the opportunity to visit the government hospital in Zomba. It is difficult for me to describe what I saw because it is an experience you have to see with your own eyes to understand. The hospital experience was eye opening and humbling to be apart of. It was amazing to see how universal medicine is. For example, a lot of the equipment was the same such as yellow disposable stethoscopes, IV tubing, and saline bags. It was truly an unforgettable experience that I am grateful to have had the opportunity.
I also had the joy of meeting a large group of children who were walking home from school. They absolutely LOVED getting their picture taken and then seeing the picture. The smiles of the Malawian children and Malawians in general is contagious.
There is a positive atmosphere here filled with love, laughter, and joy. I am looking forward to our first day of clinic tomorrow and the rest of the trip!
Thank you all for the prayers, support, and donations!
Maria Hill
BSN Nursing Student from Xavier University

P.S. The first two pictures are of the school children I met and the last picture is one of the stone house where 6 of us girls live in with the Zomba Plateau behind us. We gratefully share our shower with a toad that we named Hank. 🙂

Katie Hulit’s Med Team Experience

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Katie Hulit was one of 26 participants on the 2017 VIP Medical Trip to Malawi. Our team made up of Doctors, Nurses, Nursing students and other medical professionals, along with support staff, treated nearly 6,000 patients in 4 rural clinics last month. Katie, a Registered Nurse, treated hundreds of patients suffering from malaria, respiratory infections, burns and dozens of other ailments, who would not have been able to receive medical care otherwise. While practicing medicine in Malawi was disorienting and at times distressing for some of the first time participants, for Katie it reminded her of a similar trip she took to Guatemala years ago where she had decided to become a nurse in the first place.
But although the lack of documentation and electronic records, and the mud walls and dirt floors were all familiar to Katie, Malawi also stands out as incredibly unique. A few people and stories stood out to Katie as she reflected on her trip. One special patient was Jackie, who Katie met when the team made home visits to especially vulnerable families. Jackie is an 18 year old boy with an ever present smile on his face. When Jackie was a baby he had hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid around his brain. In the U.S. he would have immediately gotten a shunt to drain the fluid and relieve the pressure, but growing up in Malawi he didn’t have the fluid drained until he was 5 years old. As a result he received extensive brain damage and is non-verbal and doesn’t have the full use of his legs. Three years ago the Medical team visited Jackie and fixed his wheelchair, this year our medical team brought him a brand new wheelchair to replace the old one. He beamed with happiness as he showed off his new wheelchair and the new clothes that Katie and the rest of the team had brought him.
There is no doubt that every year our medical team and people like Katie save and improve lives through our clinics and home visits. But Katie knows that the medical team only goes to Malawi once a year, and though VIP is opening a new weekly medical clinic to complement our existing medical clinics, the situation is more difficult when the VIP team is not on the ground. While the medical team was there the Zomba Central Hospital, located in the nearest large city, was sending patients from the hospital to our rural clinics because the hospital had run out of medication. Katie also worries about follow up on infections and a general lack of medical knowledge. One boy had cut his foot open on a large piece of glass and was given antibiotics at the local hospital. Not familiar with western medication, the boy put the pills into the wound rather than swallowing them. The wound quickly became infected and though he had the wound treated by our medical team and was taught how to take antibiotics, there is a real chance he could lose his leg, or worse. Sometimes even a simple cut in Malawi can be a death sentence. 
Katie plans to return to Malawi next year with the medical team to save more lives. We at VIP are incredibly grateful and humbled that we are able to partner with such talented and compassionate people who are working towards the day when people in Malawi and the United States can expect the same degree of medical care. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for the people of Malawi Katie!