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Malawi Children's Initiative

Our Mission

Working to improve the lives of Malawian children by supporting locally-led initiatives targeting healthcare, nutrition, and education.

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$25,000 match through 12/31/24!!

In August 2024, a local businessman from Burlington, Mr. Douglas Boteler of National OnDemand, and Mrs. Gayle Peacock, a longtime champion of healthcare improvement projects in Malawi, joined Dr. Fitzgerald for a week to learn more about the work MCI has been doing, get to know the team and the staff at the hospital, and explore the concept of building a new Children's Hospital at KCH.

Ms. Peacock, whose family has already generously donated to many programs at KCH through the University of North Carolina, donated $20,000 to MCI in September, which used to support the  expansion of lab services at KCH to 24 hours. Mr. Boteler has offered to match up to $25,000 to support MCI's work. Any donation received between now and the end of the year will go toward this $25,000 match!

Mr. Boteler has also generously offered to support a capital campaign to build a future KCH Children's Hospital, which is planned to begin in early 2025. 

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MCI 2024 Fall Newsletter

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KCH Pediatric Lab has gone to 24-hour coverage!

Imagine going to the hospital in the middle of the night because your child was terribly ill and being told there was nothing the doctors could do to evaluate them, as the lab and radiology department were closed for the night. Although the KCH Pediatric lab officially opened in November 2019, it was not until August of this year that we were able to move to 24-hour coverage, and it has made a tremendous difference in the ability to diagnose and treat children, many of whom come in evening hours. Our dedicated team has worked hard to ensure and maintain the highest standards for the lab, working with local and national experts to improve service quality and delivery. We are so proud of their achievement and how they consistently contribute to saving and improving the lives of children!

MCI Scholarships

MCI provides dozens of scholarships to Malawians from grade school through post-graduate education. We try to invest first in our own employees, as well as in the staff at KCH. Currently our Lab Manager, Mr. Samson Banda, who has been with MCI for 5 years, is pursuing a Master’s of Science in Medical Microbiology. Chimwemwe Sangoh, an NRU nurse with MCI for 3 years, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work. Saidi Chimbalu, a nutritional specialist with MCI for 5 years, has just started a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. Grace Majaha , a technical nurse/midwife, is working toward her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Midwifery, and  Loness Eliya, a nurse who has worked for MCI for 3 years, continues her Master’s in Critical Nursing in Kenya. These team members go to school fulltime while continuing to work fulltime as well, and many of them have families. We are so proud of their dedication to excellence and continued education!

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Loness Eliyah
 

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Samson Banda

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Saidi Chimbalu

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Chimwemwe Sangoh

Fall 2023 Update
 

Our 15 MCI employees are thriving! Several of our staff have gone back to school to obtain higher degrees, while continuing to provide excellent compassionate care to pediatric patients at KCH. Loness Eliya, a nurse who has worked for MCI for about 3 years, will be starting her Master's in Critical Care nursing at the Kamuzu University Of Health Sciences (KUHeS) in September. She received a full scholarship for her tuition and fees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She will continue to work for MCI throughout her studies. Congratulations Loness!

2023 Year End
Fundraising Campaign

 

MCI has raised over $650,000 in the last 4 years to support children, families, and healthcare professionals in Malawi.

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We have had a positive impact on thousands of lives, and our team continues to provide compassionate, holistic care to the patients we work with every day. 

We can't do this without your help.

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Learn More

Meet the children of Dzama School
 

In 2018 MCI worked with UNC Project Malawi to build a school in Dzama village, located on the outskirts of Lilongwe, that provides a learning space for almost 100 children. Meet the children of Dzama school; support our life-changing educational programs by donating today!

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