Embangweni Hospital, Embangweni, Malawi

http://marionmedical.org/hospital.htm

In 1988 as Brentwood Presbyterian Church prepared for its Sanctuary expansion, it was decided to intentionally address the needs of others in our community and the world.  Twenty-five percent of the Capital Campaign was dedicated to Mission outside the expanding walls of the church—one-half to an international ministry and one-half to a local ministry.  Embangweni Hospital in Malawi, Africa was chosen as the international ministry.

Since that time our congregation has continued to support the work of the hospital through the Medical Benevolence Foundation, a validated mission agency with the PC(USA) International Health Ministries.  In addition, our congregation has helped to fund the School for the Hard of Hearing and has underwritten an ambulance, water wells  and malaria nets as well as resources for families with hospitalized members.  Three BPC delegations have visited Embangweni.

Embangweni Hospital is one of three hospitals under the auspices of the Synod of Livingstonia in Malawi, a mission partner with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  The 130-bed hospital serves a population of about 100,000 people and operates remote health centers in addition to the main hospital .  Over 4.000 people a year are cared for in the female, male, children’s and TB wards.  In addition, the hospital offers a surgical theatre, lab, pharmacy, and an outpatient department.  It manages nineteen monthly static clinics, three outlying health centers and conducts 28 mobile clinics.  A nutrition rehab unit teaches new mothers how to better care their infants.

The hospital’s health care serves are led by a combination of one or two expatriate doctors and two Malawian clinical officers, medical assistants, nurses and allied works.   Currently PC(USA) mission co-worker Martha Sommers serves as the resident physician.