Introduction: Remembering My Mother

My mother, Rosemary, passed away in 2007 after a long battle with heart disease. She was not only my mother but also my best friend. She taught me how to care for others without expecting anything in return. Her light continues to shine among those whose lives she touched, and she will always be remembered and cherished in our hearts.

A Mother’s Struggle: Battling a Heart Condition

I first became aware of the seriousness of my mother’s condition in the late 1980s. After a visit to Mzuzu Central Hospital, doctors told her she needed a surgery that could not be performed in Malawi. Without it, she had no chance of survival. My parents couldn’t afford the surgery, and the government did not provide financial support, leaving us to face the reality that we were waiting for her to pass away.

However, by the grace of God, my father received a scholarship to study theology in South Africa, and the trip allowed my mother to have the life-saving surgery she needed. Although the surgery was supposed to be repeated every five years, we couldn’t afford it, and she required regular medical checkups, traveling monthly from Lilongwe to Blantyre for specialized care. Special thanks go to the doctors and medical staff who took care of her during those years.

In 2007, my mother passed away in India after complications from surgery. Without the support of our family, friends, and the medical teams in Malawi, South Africa, and India, my mother wouldn’t have lived long enough to see my children. I am forever grateful to all who were there for us.

A Shared Struggle: Healthcare in Malawi

My experience is shared by many Malawians, particularly those in the lower and middle classes. Healthcare, which should be a basic right, has become a luxury in Malawi. The World Health Organization (2000) ranked Malawi 185th globally in terms of health performance, and the majority of citizens suffer the most from this inadequate system.

The Challenges in Accessing Healthcare

•   Travel for Treatment: Many serious health cases in Malawi require travel to either Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe or Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre. For those living in rural areas like Chitipa, where many survive on less than a dollar a day, the cost of transport alone (around MWK 15,000) is often insurmountable. The prospect of seeking treatment abroad, which can cost over $10,000, is simply out of reach for most.
•   Lack of Resources: Even when patients make it to hospitals, they face shortages of food, medicine, and specialized doctors. Medical staff are overworked, underpaid, and in short supply. Many healthcare workers leave Malawi to seek better opportunities abroad, further straining an already fragile system.

Potential Solutions: Improving Malawi’s Healthcare

The healthcare system in Malawi is in desperate need of reform. Here are a few steps that could be taken to improve the situation:

Increase the Health Budget

As per the Abuja Declaration, the government should allocate at least 15% of its national budget to the health sector. However, the health budget decreased from 11% in 2013/2014 to 8% in 2014/2015 (African Economic Outlook, 2015). Increasing this allocation is crucial to improving access to medicine, medical staff, and essential healthcare services.

Retain Medical Staff

While we cannot force healthcare professionals to stay in Malawi, the government could implement programs requiring medical graduates to work in public hospitals for a specified period (1-3 years) before seeking employment elsewhere. This would ensure that public hospitals benefit from the skills of new graduates, at least in the short term.

Additionally, developed countries that benefit from Malawi’s medical graduates should provide compensation for the resources spent on their training. While donor assistance is essential, this issue needs to be addressed separately to curb the brain drain of medical professionals.

Improve Working Conditions

The government must improve working conditions for medical staff, from better pay to improved resources and working environments. Motivated and well-supported employees are more likely to stay and provide the quality care that Malawians deserve.

Utilize Resources Effectively

Misuse of resources—such as using official vehicles for personal errands or stealing drugs—must be stopped. The government’s plan to install CCTV cameras in central hospitals is a step in the right direction, but more must be done to prevent the misuse of public funds and medical supplies.

Focus on Basic Healthcare

While the absence of specialists is a major issue, we should prioritize improving basic healthcare services. Focusing on accessible, affordable care for all Malawians should come before expanding specialist services, which may be too costly for the current system to sustain.

A Word of Thanks

There is much work to be done to improve healthcare in Malawi, but it’s a cause worth fighting for. I would like to thank all the medical staff in Malawi’s public hospitals who work tirelessly in difficult conditions. You could easily leave for better opportunities abroad, but you have chosen to stay and serve your fellow Malawians. For that, you are our heroes. Thank you.