It has been a while since I have posted a blog and this seems like an appropriate time to resume. I am now flying from Kansas City to Atlanta en route to Malawi in southeastern Africa. As the Chief Medical Officer for Heart to Heart International, Julie Hefner (Heart to Heart's Director of International Programs) and I will explore partnering with the Church of the Resurrection in their primary care and nutrition programs. It is a new role for me (at least since my last blog), developing programs and partnerships. It is a change because I was used to taking care of patients in the developing world and disasters. Now, while I get to do that some, My main focus is on how others can provide that care. I won't deny that there are some regrets in the change because I have always enjoyed taking care of patients. But there is a challenge and a greater good that I can help usher in by developing avenues through which others can help. Certainly there is much more that needs to be done than I could ever do. By developing these programs, many others will have the opportunity to help give those without adequate medical care, be they in the developing world or even in the U.S..
On this trip, I will spend almost two weeks in Malawi. This is a small county wedged between Zambia and Mozambique in southeastern Africa. It was already in the bottom tier of least developed countries before 3 straight years of poor harvests. Since the majority of people are subsistence farmers, this has lead to widespread hunger and the President of Malawi has since declared a state of emergency. One aspect of famine is that most who die due to malnutrition don't die of a lack of calories. 90% of those who die, due so because of infection. The immune system is the second most energy requiring tissue in the body after the brain. In malnutrition, many don't have enough calories to expend to fight what would be otherwise survivable infections. We have brought a large supply of antibiotics with us, but the immune system still needs energy to work. Malawi has been importing food, but there are still several months before the next harvest.
Hopefully, the situation isn't so dire. I look forward to learning more about the people of Malawi. However, please keep us and the people of Malawi in prayer.
