Kelvin is a 53-year-old farmer who lives in a very remote area, but he is proud of his livestock collection which currently includes 11 goats, 12 ducks, 35 chickens, and 56 doves.
Read more"How I learned the job of cooking" by John Chizimba
The story of how John learned to cook is a sweet one with a caring grandmother, absent father who returns late in life, and a passion for making delicious food.
Read morePatient Spotlight: Judith
Judith is a farmer at Ndaula who lives in a mud-brick house with a grass roof. She owns a bicycle and one chicken. Her home is 40 minutes from the nearest health center and also 40 minutes from the nearest source of electricity, which is a barber shop near her community. She collects water from a nearby borehole for use at home. Ndaula is located near Dzalanyama Forest Reserve on the Mozambique border with Malawi, which is a long distance on difficult roads from any of the referral centers.
Read moreSAFE Sponsorships
Since the SAFE program only covers costs related to a patient’s actual procedure, our patients still depend on us for costs such as diagnostic tests, transportation, and food during the hospital stay. Right now, we are proud to be sponsoring nine patients for treatment with the SAFE program at Nkhoma Mission Hospital.
Read moreAccess to Surgery for Lilongwe’s Rural Communities
When AHA first began doing surgery in the village of Kabudula (Kab) in 2014, international visitors completed most of the procedures, and only very minor procedures could be done when we weren’t there. The road from Lilongwe to Kab was dirt, and only one clinician had experience in minor surgeries and could independently complete minor procedures. Yet there were hundreds of patients with untreated surgical conditions around Kab trading center alone, and services had not yet been extended to the surrounding rural health centers.
Read moreMphatso Case Update
In February 2022, Mphatso and his father traveled to Blantyre so Mphatso could undergo tests to receive an official diagnosis. The doctors and specialists at Mercy James determined Mphatso suffers from arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), which happens when a group of blood vessels form incorrectly. The arteries and veins are tangled and form direct connections instead of connecting through capillaries as they should to bypass normal tissue. It was discovered that Mphatso had two veins feeding the growth.
Read moreNurse Christina’s Visit to Mphatso’s Village in Mozambique
Nurse Chrsitina’s trip has given us a much deeper understanding of Mphatso’s home village, what his life is like, and the trepidations of traveling for medical care.
Read moreDay 1: Lines & Power Outages
The first day of any surgical camp is always a bit hectic. Patients traveling in and learning where to go, supplies being delivered and organized, walk in patients looking for treatment, and more. Throw in a power outage and you’re sure to be on your toes all day. Scroll through today’s pictures to get a sense of all that was accomplished today.
Read morePreparing for Camp
In the past, AHA has paid to refill the oxygen cylinder, but we are so proud to have partnered with the District Health Office (DHO) so that they refilled the tank for this camp. This demonstrates a belief and support in our work that we truly appreciate.
Read moreThe team lands in Malawi
Since March 2020, clinicians have treated 310 patients at our local camps.
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