A reminder why MAHECAS was set up and why we are still active
Malawi, with its population of over 10 million, is among the 10 poorest countries of the world.
Like many developing countries, Malawi is struggling to maintain basic medical care for the majority of its population.
The difficulties of an impoverished rural economy set against the background of the AIDS epidemic and its related diseases give rise to a most compelling need.
- Life expectancy at birth is only 37 years.
- 1 in 7 children die at birth.
- 1 in 4 children do not reach their 5th birthday.
- 3 in 5 children are chronically undernourished.
- 1 in 6 women die in childbirth.
- There is an acute shortage of medical and nursing staff, as well as medicine, buildings, equipment and bedding.
- Hospital wards are so overcrowded that patients sleep on the floor on woven mats between beds or in the corridors.
- Relatives have to help as best they can with food and bedding as well as providing additional nursing care and medicines if they can afford them. Guardian shelters house these relatives who are able to stay and assist at the hospital.
Mahecas was founded in 1995 with the following objectives:
- to raise money for the purpose of assisting hospitals and medical services in Malawi;
- to relieve sickness and preserve good health through the provision of medical equipment, medical expertise, training and personnel;
- to publicise the plight of the sick of Malawi to the outside world and seek assistance for its medical services.
