27/05/2026
A Glimmer of Inspiration Amidst an Unrelenting Struggle
A close friend of mine recently visited from Scotland. He has only been away for almost a year, but he could not fail to notice the difference between when he left and now. His overall remark was, “Joe, it would be okay if we had stagnated at a certain level, for example where we were in 2018, 2020, or even 2023, some level at least, but we seem to be going backwards each year!” He lamented, “How can one really plan on coming back to this country?”
I share some of his sentiments. I often have to force myself to focus on something positive and good so that I do not become preoccupied with some of the bad news that characterises Malawi. Each time I forget to count God’s blessings, one by one, I find myself thinking about an exit strategy from Malawi's struggles. Thankfully, there has been enough to thank God for, and enough good to see amidst the struggle.
For example, I am grateful that I can afford some decent healthcare. At the same time, I am amazed by the level of poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and lack of disposable income that characterize the lives of people living within just a few kilometers of the center of our cities. You drive 40 minutes from the airport and find people who cannot even afford public transportation to access affordable Mission Hospitals or even the free but overwhelmed government health centers and hospitals.
That is why programs like the Mobile Clinics we run at Blessings Hospital hold a special place in my heart. It is such a simple yet impactful idea: take healthcare to those who need it most. Previously, I have equally enjoyed volunteering for a month in Neno with Partners In Health, in Chilumba with Maji Zuwa, Inc., and traveling for mobile surgical clinic in Chikwawa with Malamulo Hospital. On my two recent visits to very rural Lilongwe, I felt right at home bringing surgical skills to rural communities, and when resources and operating schedules allow, I plan to seek out more opportunities like these.
