Greetings:
Thank you for being such an important supporter of Access Health Africa and our work to improve access to healthcare in Malawi! We have exciting updates from Malawi including upcoming trips, promotions & new hires, our annual fundraiser, patient spotlights, & more.
Under the Baobab Tree is our quarterly newsletter. To receive it directly to your inbox, click here to subscribe.
UPCOMING EVENT: 2024 Annual Fundraiser
We had so much fun at our Fundraiser last year, we’re doing it again, and we hope you can join us for a silent auction, dancing, drinks, food, & more! Last year, we raised over $10,000 and our goal is to raise even more this year!! All proceeds will support surgical procedures, patient transportation, medication, and related costs.
This year, we are also thrilled to announce that our Silent Auction will allow virtual bidding! So even if you can’t attend in person, there will be opportunities to bid on some of the FANTASTIC items & experiences we have up for auction.
To purchase in-person tickets: click this link
To bid remotely: follow us on Facebook
Facebook Event with Previews of Silent Auction Items & Future Info on Virtual Bidding for Silent Auction Items: https://bit.ly/AHA2024FundraiseronFacebook (click DISCUSSION at the top for details)
Malawi Staff Updates
As the backbone of our programs & efforts in Malawi, our staff are the ones who implement our life-saving and life-changing care. Now, AHA is thrilled to share three important staffing updates.
We are very proud to announce that Mwayi Kamphoni has been promoted to Country Manager! After joining AHA as our Administrative Assistant in 2022, Mwayi has demonstrated a keen ability to run programs, manage staff, and complete administrative responsibilities, all while prioritizing patient safety & outcomes. As Country Manager, Mwayi will provide in-country leadership for the team, oversee programs, and manage operations.
Additionally, AHA is delighted to welcome Program Coordinator Beatrice Kasanda to the team. Beatrice manages and coordinates AHA activities, monitors programs, and ensures timely and efficient implementation of all projects. Also new to the team is Operations Officer Lloyd Kanono, who supports, plans, executes, and evaluates programs to ensure they meet organizational objectives. Since joining AHA in April, both Beatrice and Lloyd have proven themselves to be invaluable assets to the organization!
Read Mwayi’s bio here, Beatrice’s bio here, and Lloyd’s bio here!
From left to right: Country Manager Mwayi Kamphoni, Program Coordinator Beatrice Kasanda, and Operations Officer Lloyd Kanono.
LOOKING AHEAD: Camps in 2024
We have a BUSY rest of the year! Right now, AHA Board Vice President Dr. Baker Henson is taking a small group to Kabudula Community Hospital where they will partner with the local team to address goiters, hernias, lipomas, and other medical conditions.
In September, AHA’s visiting team will partner with Mitundu Community Hospital to treat patents with hernias, lipomas, keloids, and more. We launched our partnership with Mitundu in 2023 and are very impressed with how their skills and patient care are progressing.
Also in September, AHA is partnering with Operation Medical to send four surgeons and their teams to Kamuzu Central Hospital where they will partner with local providers and focus on larger procedures such as stoma reversals, prolapses, and more! We are proud to work with Operation Medical to jointly increase surgical access in Malawi.
In October, AHA Alum Emily Stallings will address prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum in partnership with Kabudula Community Hospital. Read on for an overview of Emily’s first midwifery trip in April of this year.
That’s FOUR camps in the remainder of the year… which is why we need your SUPPORT!
Mitundu’s staff poses with AHA’s visiting team in September 2023.
PROGRAM SUCCESS: Midwifery Assessment Completed
In March of this year, AHA Alum Emily Stallings, a Nurse-Midwife, spent a week at Kabudula Community Hospital and two of its rural catchment facilities, Ukwe and Khongoni Health Centers.
Her visit included an assessment of current prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum offerings; hands-on provision of midwifery care; opportunities for future collaboration; and educational lectures on requested topics.
“The program was good and all the teams embraced it! We are so thankful that Kabudula was chosen for the project!” -Kabudula participant
Emily offered an educational lecture focusing on preeclampsia, a dangerous medical condition that can go undetected during pregnancy. Twenty clinicians attended the session and had a lively discussion about diagnosing and treating preeclampsia and other innovations in the field.
2023 Annual Report
In 2023, we completed an organization-record of 533 general surgeries, provided hands-on training to 45 staff at our partner facilities, and partnered with local staff to complete the first-ever laparoscopic colostomy reversal at Kamuzu Central Hospital. Read more in our 2023 Annual Report!
WE NEED YOU
There are so many ways to support AHA’s work in Malawi!
Purchase supplies from our Amazon WishList (Prime Days are July 16th & 17th)
Bid on silent auction items remotely (click Discussion at the top for a preview of items)
Follow us on Facebook & Instagram (& send, share, like, & comment on our posts to increase reach)
Forward this email to like-minded friends who should know more about AHA’s work!
THANK YOU!
Thank you to the patients, visiting healthcare providers, partners, donors, supporters, and advocates who make our work possible! We are so thankful and could not do this without your support!
Zikomo (Thank you) for your support!
This work & impact isn’t possible without your investment.
Click here to sign up to receive future communications from Access Health Africa!
www.accesshealthafrica.org | info@accesshealthafrica.org
Access Health Africa, PO Box 57, Boone, NC 28607, USA