Malaika Project Clinic

Malaika Project Clinic The health situation in Nyamuswa is dismal. Many local residents say "we are living by the hand of God". The only clinic for the area lacks mattresses for beds, has no doctor, and has limited equipment, not even a blood pressure cuff. The closest physician, at the district hospital in Bunda, is 25 km away over dirt roads, 50km away from the outlying villages. There is no public transportation, and most residents travel by foot or bicycle. National expenditure on health is only $12 per day and per capita income is less than a dollar a day.  The local laboratory can only test for malaria, stool studies, or TB. There is no HIV testing available although people in the village are dying weekly from AIDS. Patients are given prescriptions rather than medications, since the free medications provided by the government are always out of supply. Most people buy medications directly from local "pharmacies" run by local businessmen rather than by trained pharmacists. Life expectancy is only 50 years, and infant mortality and under five mortality are 140/1,000 and 150/1,000 respectively. Infectious disease is responsible for most of the morbidity and mortality in this region. Malaria ranks number one of the most common diseases in the district, followed by respiratory infections, diarrheal disease, intestinal worms, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, eye infections, ear infections, and sexually transmitted diseases. Only 1% of the population has been tested for HIV. The Nyamuswa community has supported an initiative to build a local clinic and laboratory to increase access to healthcare for the community. The community has already donated land and a building. Malaika Project is working to secure funding to purchase equipment and provide a doctor, laboratory, pharmacy, ambulance, and outreach. The clinic will provide a doctor for the community, the first registered pharmacist in the area, and a laboratory which can diagnose and treat the most common diseases in the area. Malaika project is collaborating with local government clinics to strengthen MCH services such as prenatal care and childhood immunizations. An ambulance will transport people in need of urgent care to the District Hospital. A local pharmaceutical supplier has offered to sell medications at cost. From a local clinic, the Malaika Project plans to offer HIV counseling and testing, provide eye health services, conduct outreach to the surrounding villages to focus on prevention, and establish ambulance services to the District Hospital 25 km away. How can you help? Volunteer, donate equipment and medical supplies, do a fundraising drive. Contact jenniemalaika@yahoo.com, the program coordinator for details

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