Working with local leaders, MBF is helping create an innovative countrywide Christian medical network in Malawi to strengthen these ministries.
The novel network integrates and modernizes medical mission hospitals, clinics and schools. Updated buildings, new equipment, local staff trained locally in surgery, specialty medicine and critical care – all of this is happening as part of the Malawi Medical Network.
Learn more about the Malawi Network as MBF talks with reporter Mia Gradney of KHOU 11 Houston.
In future stages, MBF plans to help the Network members explore economies of scale in procuring supplies and training. Other plans include additional medical residencies and the addition of more clinics to the network.
- 5 Hospitals
- 3 Nursing Schools
- 24 Clinics
- Surgical Residency
- Specialty Medicine Residency
- Nursing Leadership Program
- Critical Care Program
- Spiritual Ministry Program
This same approach is repeatable across other countries where MBF is already starting to partner with local ministries.
Ministry leaders from Malawi, healthcare leaders and MBF staff members launch the Network in April 2021
Members Include:
- David Gordon Memorial Hospital, Ekwendeni Mission Hospital and Embangweni Mission Hospital, all ministries of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Livingstonia Synod and associated nursing schools and clinics
- Mulanje Mission Hospital, a ministry of the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian, Blantyre Synod
- Nkhoma Mission Hospital, a ministry of the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian, Nkhoma Synod and associated nursing school and clinics
- LifeSaver clinics throughout the country of Malawi, all of which are ministries of the above Synods as well as Seventh Day Adventist Health and the Dedza Diocese of the Catholic Church
David Gordon Memorial Hospital, Malawi
Ekwendeni Mission Hospital, Malawi
Embangweni Mission Hospital, Malawi
Nkhoma Mission Hospital, Malawi
Mulanje Mission Hospital, Malawi
LifeSaver Clinics in Malawi
Malawi has one of the lowest surgical capacities in the world. A surgical residency started at Nkhoma Mission Hospital with one teaching doctor in 2019 has expanded to include 4 teaching doctors. In January 2022, the program admitted its first residents, two doctors from other mission hospitals in Malawi who were selected and sponsored to train as surgeons in the residency.
Upon completion of their residency training, the doctors will rejoin one of the Medical Network member hospitals in Malawi and begin treating patients on their own. Surgical referrals can begin from those hospitals’ outlying clinics directly to the nearest hospitals and patients who need surgeries will have their lives transformed by access to the care they need.
Dr. Caleb Kapengule (second from right) and Dr. Vitu Mwafulirwa (left) joined as the first residents in 2022. They are both from Malawi and will continue there as surgeons when their residencies are completed.
Dr. Jens Vaylann, Dr. Beth Stuebing Adams and Dr. Yamikani Limbe will be part of the surgical staff teaching the residency.
This model – integrating and strengthening local ministries into a network – can work in other countries. Early discussions with target countries have gone exceptionally well. It’s not hard to embrace a vision with these results:
- better medical care and patient outcomes through patient referrals
- doctors trained in advanced surgery and internal medicine residencies so they can treat more specialized non-communicable diseases
- nurses trained in advanced patient care, including critical care and surgical nursing
- economies of scale in buying medical supplies, equipment, and training resources
- ability to generate new revenue so the ministry can continue to care for the poor.
MBF’s vision is to create 10 new countrywide networks in 10 new countries over the next 10 years. The cost per country for the residencies, training, equipment and facilities upgrades and systems is about $10 million per country.
