DAY 2 JUNE 18, 2012

My first visit to Malawi was in October 2001 with the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (GAIA).  The organization's mission in short is to address the suffering caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic through a variety of activities.  GAIA provides resources that allows for those impacted with HIV/AIDS to have orphan care, home-based care, HIV/AIDS education, women empowerment programs, and scholarships for students.  During my early visits the devastation of the epidemic was palpable.  People were afraid to be tested as it meant to them an automatic death sentence.  Medications were not available or too expensive and access to health care facilities was difficult.  Stigma in the communities prevented people from talking to each other about their situations, asking for help, and reaching out to those in need.   Now as we fast forward 11 years, so much has changed, at least from my perspective for the better.

Today we visited the GAIA Elizabeth Taylor Mobile Clinic in Mulange.  These are mobile clinics that travel to remotes areas and are funded through a grant from the Elizabeth Taylor Foundation.  

Times have changed…  I witnessed a few people get tested for HIV and receive counseling.    The most exciting part was to see the husbands along side their wives being tested.  This does not occur every where but the willingness to know their HIV status is growing.  I was very impressed to see a young man who was 20 years came to get tested so that he would know his status. 

The rest of my time was spent observing the activities of the clinical officer who is the primary care giver for the villagers.  Care is provided in an old church.   Many people come form all over the area to seek medical care.  The mobile clinics have designated areas to which they travel to once a week.  The cases seen included positive tests for malaria, elevated BP, complaints of general aches and pains, fever and cough, and a young boy with complaints of blood in his urine.  Of course when I heard that I was concerned about why this was happening.  Apparently the boys enjoy playing in the river and they become infected by organisms that live in the river.  A very common occurrence.


The nurse and the clinical officer provide the most compassionate care I've seen.  Their spirits are warm, friendly, professional and very caring.  It isa sight to behold given that they see a multitude of patients daily.

Care is provided to patients in this old church building 

Later in the afternoon we visited a village by where were welcomed with singing and dancing.  The people of Malawi are a happy people and are not bashful about expressing their gratitude and thanks.   I have come to anticipate seeing this outpouring of grace and joy and I am always moved by the women and men who participate in the performances. 

We were also welcomed by the chief of the village.  Following protocol that the chiefs are notified of our coming and he expressed his thanks for the work of GAIA and how his village has benefited from the community health workers in taking care of the orphans and those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Community Health Workers singing and dancing 

Community Health Coordinator Welcoming us to the Village