LifeNets Commits to Helping
Complete Construction of
Chizeni Clinic in Balaka,
Malawi
July 25, 2001
As we come to completion of building the new Malakia Clinic in the capital city of Lilongwe, Malawi, André van Belkum, president of LifeNets South Africa calls our attention to another vital project.
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Dr. Sam Chilopora is building a medical clinic in Balaka, Malawi that will
serve many people—mostly children—in his community, but he needs help to
finish it. We are working to supply direct funding so it can be completed soon. The government has donated the property to Dr. Chilopora
and he has completed about one-third of the project. Photos show the
progress that he was able to achieve by his own efforts as of the first of
the year, 2001. The value of the
building is about $12,400. The completion of the building will cost
another $28,000.
The brickwork has been completed, that is, the foundation and the brick walls, without the plastering (outside and inside). The entire ceiling, the inside installations (such as doors, cupboards, wall tiles etc.) still have to be completed.
I invite you to consider supporting
this project with a donation.
If you’d like more information beyond what is here on the web site,
please call Victor Kubik directly at 888-821-0095.
Balaka is the entry point district in the Southern Region from the
Centre of the country.
It lies in the swampy areas of the Shire River Valley, northeast of Blantyre.
Road and railways intersect at Balaka. The population is about 120,000. Almost
all the people in this area are poor peasant farmers. Most of the times rains
are erratic and farm yields are poor. Many people suffer malnutrition towards
the beginning of the rainy season. Malaria and worm infestations are endemic,
and many people especially children die of these diseases, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis
and others.
Although there is a Government Hospital at Balaka there is no qualified doctor. Most of the times there are no drugs for patients. Many patients return from the hospital without receiving medicines. They turn to private clinics for treatment. The only clinic that has a qualified doctor is Chizeni Health Services in the entire district. Most of those who return from the Government Hospital without medicine seek treatment at Chizeni. How does one return a dying child because parent have no money? We treat them all the same. I am convinced that it is a noble virtue to relieve human suffering. But many who who fear to come go home with their sick ones to die.
It is said that the life expectancy of the a Malawian is 44 years. But this age is threatened by many factors. Since the HIV/AIDS pandemic it can be said that the 44 year lifespan is speculative .
This year many farms have been washed away by heavy continuous rains. The harvests (if any) are minimal. Many people are already starving. even if one is ill, and has a little amount of money, he would rather die of the disease than starvation. So he buys his food but still dies of the disease. Most of the diseases people die from could be prevented if they were counseled on how to live a healthy life, and had access to drugs--but drugs are very expensive --too expensive for an ordinary man in this area.
This is need for this clinic to be completed in order to serve these poor needy people. It could be the best way to reduce the mortality rate. Chizeni Health Services is the only safety valve in Balaka and adjacent districts of Machinga, Htcheu and Dedza where people turn when in dire need. Government Hospitals render poor, inadequate services e.g. prescribe aspirin for diarrhea and other illnesses and give water injections. Free treatment under certain circumstances instead of sending patients home with treatment.
How Chizeni Was Born
Words of Dr. Sam Chilopora:
"At the end of my contract with the Anglican Church, I retired at home. A man I had helped while in Government Service came home, seriously ill. He asked me to treat him. I advised that he needed admission. He insisted "Chizeni" which means "heal me." I reluctantly helped him. He went out and told others how I helped him. A small number which subsequently grew came home for treatment. Most of the patients came from Balaka. They urged me to open a clinic there. So I moved to Balaka. My wife Esther has been been a source of inspiration while working with me. She is a State Registered Nurse/midwife trained in the United Kingdom, (West Kent General Hospital 1964-1970). She served in Malawi in many hospitals and finally received Matron qualification.
 Dr. Sam Chilopora (age 72) with wife Esther who came up on four hour bus ride from Balaka, Malawi to meet with us. He received his medical credentials in eastern France many years ago. |
"We are renting the offices of an old garage for the work. We occupy three rooms which we have converted into the Registry, Consulting Room and the Treatment Room. There is also a toilet area. We treat common tropical diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, bilharzia hook and round worms, eye and ear infection, skin diseases, malnutrition, pneumonia, metabolic diseases and HIV/AIDS patients and traumatic conditions.
"The community is demanding for more services, but limitation of space does not allow us to perform surgical operaitons, group counselling on HIV/AIDS, Child spacing, Child Welfare Clinic, Antenatal Clinic, Intravenous Rehydrataion, Training of relatives for Home-based case and Laboratory service.
"In order to accommodate these essential services it became necessary to think of building a clinic of our own. In 1997 it was estimated that building of the size we put would cost MK 987.800.00. Unfortunately, the currency depreciated two times in one week during the year 1998. It was first devalued by 35% and then by 47% thereby offsetting all the plans that were made. The value our our money has not stabilized since. The above mentioned figure has already been exceeded at the level the building is. The construction work has been slowed down by these devaluations."
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