In September 2018, Action Medeor a Charity based in Germany with branches in Malawi and Tanzania, generously donated £1,500 of Diclofenac ampoules to 16 partner health units in Malawi. Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine given to reduce inflammation and as an analgesic reducing pain in certain conditions.
Shortly after sending this donation, we received notification from St Joseph’s Hospital, Limbe of an accident within their catchment area;
“This evening at the hospital we received a very bad road accident, a lorry pack with people, lost control and ended up into a river. Diclofenac drug you sent did helped many people today. Thank you.” – Sister Mercy – Medical Officer In Charge.
St Joseph’s Hospital was founded in 1953 and has been a partner health unit of Inter Care since 2012. They currently support a population catchment area of over 46,000 people with just 2 doctors, 6 clinical officers and 30 nurses. This hospital has a doctor-patient ratio of 0.17:1,000 patients, slightly above average for Malawi (Malawi 0.12: 1,000 / UK average 2.9:1,000). Dr Ahoka Michel Tohadi joined St Joseph’s Hospital in 2014 from the Democratic Republic of Congo, specialising in Ear, Nose and Throat. Inter Care has provided Dr Tohadi with Tonsillectomy kits with thanks to a generous donation from Vygon UK Ltd.
In Malawi, there is a population of over 18 million people, with 50.7% living below the poverty line of just £1.45 a day!