Working with the Our AIM Foundation (OAF), over the past few years Bread and Water for Africa® have teamed up to improve the lives of tens of thousands of Malawians through our healthcare and clean water and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) programs.
Bread and Water for Africa® and OAF’s partnership began in 2021 to construct boreholes (deep water wells) in seven rural villages in the country which are today providing convenient access to safe, clean water for some 1,500 children, parents and elders.
Following on the success of that and other projects in 2022, we embarked with a pilot project with OAF to expand use of mobile medical clinics to serve residents of more 125 villages across TA (Traditional Authority) Mkanda of Malawi within a 50-mile radius of OAF’s Tongozala clinic, which we also provide support to.
And earlier this year, we embarked on another joint project to construct a healthcare facility – the Nafuse Health Center – located in Kangulu Village, Group Village Mbewa, which OAF notes is expected to serve residents in more 100 villages, catering to a combined population of approximately 200,000 individuals.
Strategically positioned 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) from OAF’s Tongozala clinic and 45 kilometers (27.9 miles) from the nearest government hospital, the new center aims to bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility for Mbewa and neighboring communities. Its proximity to the population is expected to drastically reduce travel times and improve timely access to essential medical services, reported OAF, which oversaw the project.
The Nafuse Health Center will focus on addressing both communicable and non-communicable diseases, including malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea, while also tackling conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
“Our new center marks a monumental step forward in expanding our healthcare services across Malawi,” said OAF founder Nisha Mandani. “This achievement is a testament to the support and generosity of our angels.”
The role of Bread and Water for Africa® in the project was to sponsor four units of the new health center: an emergency room, the pharmacy, antenatal and consulting rooms.
The need for such a clinic was great as Malawi’s health system, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), ranks very low – 185th out of 190 – with OAF noting that “The lack of comprehensive healthcare infrastructure in rural regions like Mbewe village is a historical issue that this project aims to address.”
And specifically, Mbewe village “faces significant challenges in accessing adequate healthcare services” as the majority of the population relies on government health facilities which are far from the village “making them neither dependable nor accessible,” noted OAF in the project partnership request.
The overall objectives of the project are many: providing accessible healthcare services; promoting preventative health measures; community engagement in improving their health and wellbeing through health education sessions and awareness campaigns; collaboration with healthcare professionals; counselling and therapy; nutritional guidance; and more.
“The project’s justification lies in the historical, social, and economic challenges faced by Mbewe village and the surrounding areas,” OAF stated. “The absence of accessible healthcare services, combined with social and economic disparities, underscores the pressing need for a holistic community center that offers comprehensive healthcare and support to improve the overall well-being of the community.”
All of us at Bread and Water for Africa® are thankful for our partnership with the Our AIM Foundation to help thousands of Malawians each year through clean water and improved access to health care services – and especially to our compassionate, loyal and generous supporters who have put their faith in us to make all this possible.
