Today we started our mobile clinic by picking up local clinicians from the catholic hospital and making our way to Mzila, a village close to the one we are staying in. Our workspace was a small building with one common room and 2 smaller rooms to the side. The rooms were empty but we were able to borrow a few benches from the school in order to organize volunteers, patients and supplies.

Only a portion of the medical supplies we brought with us for clinic.

Only a portion of the medical supplies we brought with us for clinic.

Eric, Kristen & Shandi riding in the van on their way to the first full clinic day in Mzila.

Eric, Kristen & Shandi riding in the van on their way to the first full clinic day in Mzila.

Chifundo skillfully guiding the van over a tiny bridge. Everyone got off the van for this crossing to ensure their safety.

Chifundo skillfully guiding the van over a tiny bridge. Everyone got off the van for this crossing to ensure their safety.

We had the people file into a single line as best we could and started them out at the vitals station where they got their height and weight, blood pressure, and temperature recorded by Dorothy and the Malawian nurses. Then they were directed to one of the four clinician teams that were set up to diagnose & treat. Rob, Harriet, Shandi & Kristen were each paired with a Malawian clinician that could help translate between English and Chichewa as well as give insight into how patients are cared for at clinics in Madisi. In addition to noting their problems, we ran malaria tests for those who fit a specific symptom profile. We discovered that the typical symptoms of Malaria are fever, cough, body aches, diarrhea, and headache.

Two of our clinician teams working with patients in Mzila.

Two of our clinician teams working with patients in Mzila.

Team members organizing the clinic in the Mzila village.

Team members organizing the clinic in the Mzila village.

After visiting with one of the clinician teams, the patients were sent to the pharmacy station where Mary Beth, Eric, Kip and Mercy were placing medications into zip lock bags and writing out directions for them. This was definitely the most hectic job of the whole operation! The building was constantly packed with people and everyone was working fast in order to see the most patients possible. It was chaotic, but everyone was very flexible and working well together.

We saw a couple of critical wounds, a lot of malaria, gastritis, pneumonia, peptic ulcer disease, and other bacterial or fungal infections. The Malawian clinicians had a different way of dosing and abbreviating medication directions but we were able to work out a system that put us all on the same page. We were all amazed at how much is diagnosed based on symptoms alone, but in order to see a large number of people in one day, this is probably necessary.

Unfortunately, we had to start closing the clinic at 2pm so we would be able to pack the van, take the clinicians back to the hospital, and give Mercy enough time to drive back to Lilongwe before dark. Even though we had seen about 145 people, there was still a large crowd outside that was upset with the fact that they would not be seen that day. Many of us felt discouraged by this, but Mercy reminded us that the line would only continue to grow and we did not have enough supplies for everyone to be seen.

After making it back to the parsonage, a few of us went to the local drug store to purchase more malaria tests and medications so that we would be able to continue the clinic tomorrow in Mtiti. The doctor at the local hospital spoke to Rob regarding the little girl, Lucita, and they wanted to keep her there for another night but she is doing better. We will continue to pray for her recovery! By the time we all had our bucket baths and gathered for devotion, we were worn out and ready to get some sleep so we would be prepared to do it again tomorrow.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9

Love and Blessings,

Team Malawi