In contrast to industrialised countries, the healthcare infrastructure in Malawi is hardly developed, thus offering patients only very limited access to medication. For example, there are no such things as pharmacies in Malawi – in search of medicines, people usually turn directly to hospitals or healthcare centres. In addition to general non-availability, the quality of the available medicines is often a problem.
One of the focal points for people in search of medicines is St. Gabriel’s Hospital, founded by the ZithaSisters in 1959. Patients travel to Namitete from a wide catchment area, guided by the knowledge that the hospital has a reliable supply of high-quality medicines.
The supply of medicines, the effectiveness of which has been tested, is managed by the Fondation Ste Zithe in cooperation with the medicines relief organisation Action Medeor. This cooperation project protects St. Gabriel’s Hospital patients from dubious pharmaceutical traders, while at the same time enabling supply reliability and demand-oriented stocks ensuring that sufficient non-expired medicines are available. This ensures that there are enough medicines without them exceeding their expiry date.
With St. Gabriel’s Hospital remaining true to its founding spirit and the guiding principles of Zitha, even patients unable to afford necessary medication are treated free of charge.
Since the beginning of the project, Fondation Ste Zithe has been able to supply St. Gabriel’s Hospital with medicines worth more than €925,000 (as of Sept.2021).
We would like to use this opportunity to thank all donors who made this possible.
