About Malawi Children's Initiative

Known as The Warm Heart of Africa, Malawi is a beautiful country in southeast Africa bordered by Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia.  The kindness of the Malawian people, the clear waters of the 360 mile-long Lake Malawi, and the safari adventures of Liwonde National Park have made Malawi a rising tourist destination.

A peaceful nation with a democratic government, the majority of Malawi's 19 million people live in a rural setting and support themselves through agriculture. Despite significant advances in the last two decades, the country still struggles with poverty; about two-thirds of its population lives on less than $2 per day.

 
Kamuzu Central Hospital, in the capital city of Lilongwe, is where MCI's work began.  The KCH Pediatric Department admits about 20,000 children per year, and has a mortality rate of about 4%. It is staffed by a handful of Malawian pediatricians often supported by international colleagues, a team of clinical officers, and a cadre of nurses. With only about 43 Pediatricians in the country and significant nursing shortages in the government hospitals, KCH faces challenges with adequate staff and supplies that have historically slowed progress in the advancement of the care of children. Although the pandemic created significant additional obstacles, the KCH Pediatric Department has continued to grow and improve over the last ten years. MCI is honored to be a partner in its progress.