Kachere Health Centre

Kachere Health Centre is 7km from Mwaya and caters for about 18,000 people. Currently, there are two nurses and a medical assistant. The health centre is Government run and comprises a general out-patients clinic, ante- and post-natal clinics, and a clinic for children under five years old. There is also a VCT (Voluntary Counselling and Testing for HIV/AIDS) clinic. Although all medical care in Malawi is free, there can often be shortages of drugs, dressings and basic equipment.

The most common illnesses seen at the health centre are malaria and HIV/AIDS related, together with problems associated with malnutrition. In addition to this, the ante- and post-natal clinics are always crowded, as is the clinic for the under fives.

RIPPLE Africa recruits doctors, medical students and nurses from overseas to help at the health centre. To find out more, please click here.

Mwaya Community Health Clinic

For some time, the District Health Officer for Nkhata Bay District has been asking if RIPPLE Africa could assist by providing a community health clinic at Mwaya. There is a burgeoning population and, currently, people have to walk to Kachere or Kande Health Centres which are both about 7km or more away and are both over-subscribed. Money was donated by a Swiss organisation, Fondation Eagle, and work finally started in July 2009. This coincided with a visit by Aldenham School from England, and the students were able to start digging the foundations. RIPPLE Africa building staff continued with construction of the building, and we hope that the clinic will be open during 2010. The staff and the medicines will be provided by the Malawian government, but RIPPLE Africa will maintain a close connection with the clinic, and future healthcare volunteers will definitely be able to help here.

Healthcare Video