Mission Partner
Update
Dr Ruth Shakespeare sends to you her very Best Wishes for 2012. The previous twelve months have been very difficult for the Mulanje hospital with fuel shortages, perpetual electricity blackouts and scarcity of drugs adding to the increasing workload of disease and illness treatment but by the Grace of God the hospital managed to pull through. Ruth and her staff are praying that the situation will improve this year. The fresh ideas she brought to the hospital have being appreciated and there has been a great improvement in clinical and nursing care. Mulanje Mission College of Nursing is also doing a commendable job in teaching Nursing and Midwifery students and recently they had a graduation ceremony celebrating a 100% pass rate. The rainy season is here now and the maize fields are growing well so plenty of food meantime but the wet conditions have also encouraged the spread of malaria. lt is hoped that a programme for increasing malaria control measures can be introduced this year. Please continue to remember Ruth and her dedicated team in your prayers.
Bob Mitchell
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I am pleased to report that we now have a new Mission partner. She is Dr Ruth Shakespeare who is going out to Malawi where she will take up the post of Medical Director at Mulanje Mission Hospital in Blantyre Synod. Recently, Ruth gave a presentalion accompanied with slides outlining the work she will undertake in Malawi and those present admired her enthusiasm and optimism for the very difficult challenge of serving in Africa.
The hospital and primary healthcare programme provide essential services for the immediate catchmcnt area serving 72 villages where 75,000 live and some services to the wider area with a population of some 555,000.
The principal services provided by thc hospital are Environmental Health, Mother and Child Healthcare, Nutrition and the treatment of HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is still the greatest challenge as about one in fifty are affected by the disease. Good progress is however being made and if the condition is diagnosed early and with continuous treatment patients can enjoy a fairly long life. Furthermore, if Mums are treated before giving birth it is now possible to prevent the disease passing to the new babies. It must be reiterated however, that treatments once started must be ongoing thereafter and this great improvement is dependent on the ever increasing demand for the appropriate drugs.
Malaria is second only to HIV/AIDS as the greatest killer and the relatively simple remedy of mosquito nets would save the lives of thousands. The main areas of concern for Ruth in Malawi are disease control, staff recruitment and retention, maintenance of infrastructure and most of all the availability of funding to finance the hospital. Please remember Ruth in your prayers that she be given Strength to cope with the difficult but essential work that lies ahead for her.
Bob Mitchell
Mission Partner Update
I am pleased to report that Dr Ruth Shakespeare has now taken up her position as Medical Director in the Mulanje Mission Hospital, Malawi. The hospital has been without a medical director for almost a year and she was therefore welcomed with open arms. Her arrival coincided with the hospital being presented with the prestigious infection prevention excellence award and she was introduced at a very colourful ceremony full of celebration and interaction.
With her extensive experience, there are many initiatives Dr Ruth is introducing into the system and this will help the hospital to improve further in the areas of patient care and finance as well as administration.
I have written to Dr Ruth sending our members’ best wishes for the demanding job which lies ahead and assuring her that we will continue to remember her and the work she is doing in our prayers.
Bob Mitchell
CAN YOU HELP?
Further Information
You can: visit the Mulanje Mission Hospital Website OR view Dr Ruth’s first local Newsletter OR view a partner letter from Dr Ruth.
