More Good News

Clement has been talking of becoming a Pediatrician since we met. Earlier this year he applied to several medical schools in various countries in Africa. While we were in the States he received news of his acceptance to Moi University in Kenya and then to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. After talking to many people and doing some research on our own, Clement decided to accept the offer of admission to KNUST. So . . . we will be moving to Ghana.

Classes start for Clement on August 17th this year. There is so much to do but we are experiencing another bureaucratic and infrastructure nightmare. With three weeks left to go, we have not received any additional information from the University. All our emails bounce back, our faxes won’t go through, and phone calls only make it through on average of 1 out of 30. It seems he will need a student visa but the closest Ghanaian High Commission is in Zimbabwe and no one answers the phone there to tell us what he needs or how to get the visa. The High Commission in South Africa, that we can reach, says that he must go through the one in Zimbabwe. We need the visa before buying the ticket. In short we are freaking out. Thankfully we have a small handful of people in Ghana and in the States who are also trying to help us so we are hopeful. We need a minor miracle.

We are also looking for funding for the six year program. Our plans are to return to Malawi and then for Clement to eventually specialize in Pediatrics. Clement wrote a letter to send to organizations/people who might be willing to help fund his education. On the chance that any of you have an idea I am including it below. I’ll feel some peace once I know he is there beginning classes and then I’ll have time to think about how I’ll manage to find work as a midwife in Ghana and wrap up my life here in Malawi. One of my friends, after hearing of all the recent updates, told me that I’m someone who does better on a rollercoaster than a merry-go-round. When my anxiety sits heavy on my chest I take a breath, think of that line, and smile, either way it’s just a ride.

Clement in his words . . .

Since a young age, I have aspired to become a medical doctor. Such inspirations are a result of my own life experiences. As both an in- and out-patient I learned that Malawi’s health care system though free, lacks many resources and this negatively impacts the overall quality and efficiency of care. Perhaps the most significant shortage is that of human resources. Imagine that you fall sick, but with great determination set out early - so that you may be among the first served - and arrive at the out-patient department by 6am. At 10am the clinician arrives and begins reviewing patients but before he reaches you, he leaves for the day. You have no choice but to return home having spent time and energy and perhaps precious money for transportation, without receiving any assistance. Sometimes luck is on your side and you receive a consultation, but once you leave with your prescription you find the dispensary closed, or the laboratory closed. As an in-patient you may stay in hospital for a week but only see a clinician twice and the nurse who may be caring for a ward full of sick individuals alone may not be able to carry out the clinician’s orders in a timely manner. This has been my experience, the experience of many family and friends, and of innumerable Malawians, simply because there are not enough medical practitioners to meet the even the basic needs of patients. Personally, these agonizing experiences ignited my passion to work with the poor and the sick.

After secondary school the path that opened to me was that of a clinical medicine programme. This three year programme was designed to cope with the extreme shortage of medical doctors. The concept of a fast track programme which trains individuals to examine, treat, prescribe medication, and conduct surgery in half the time it takes to train a physician was readily accepted in several southern Africa countries. During the process of obtaining my diploma as a Clinical Officer I came to better understand the problems faced by our health care system and gained a greater appreciation for the importance of pursuing a medical degree.

Malawi is a country of 13 million people of whom 60% are children under the age of 15. Currently there are less than 200 Malawian physicians. Malawi boasts the third worst maternal mortality rate in the world, high infant and child mortality rates, and a life expectancy that hovers around 40. The HIV/AIDS pandemic, although much milder than some neighboring sub-Saharan countries, still affects every industry including education, health, and agriculture as productive individuals fall ill and die. I recognize that I cannot change the system alone and that even though most needs are modest, they are also endless. But, I will provide one more pair of trained hands, and I know with great certainty that for the thousands of patients I will see and treat during my career as a physician, this is a significant contribution. I also understand that after three years of training my knowledge of disease processes and my clinical skills are limited. I see great need and value in further education. Malawians though poor – perhaps because they are poor and more likely to die young - deserve excellent care; I experience a constant thirst for knowledge in order to serve the population more efficiently.



In the course of my departmental rotations I fell in love with pediatric medicine. I feel this is a particularly vital course of study since the majority of Malawians are children and since they are undeniably the future of our nation. Even before I completed the clinical medicine programme I have been seeking a path to pursue my dream of becoming a pediatrician. I am now happy to report that I was recently accepted by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Their medical programme lasts six years and will begin August 17th, 2007. My dreams are within sight but one hurdle remains. I am lacking the funds for tuition, which is about US$8,000 annually. For this reason I am appealing to you; for your support of my education. I will be grateful for any contribution and will be happy to send supporting documents and references upon request.