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Charity Chase
St. Luke’s
Mission Hospital, Mpanshya
By Linda
Shenton
How many people
travelling along the Great East road towards the renowned South
Luangwa Valley and Malawi would ever dream that there is a little
oasis of care, love and professionalism called St. Luke’s Mission
Hospital, in Chief Mpanshya’s area, just 189 km east of Lusaka?
The hospital was
opened in 1965, and now serves a catchment population of 165,000
with a bed capacity of 90. The outpatient department has grown over
the years and now include activities such as Maternal and Child
Health; Counselling, Testing and Care (and other HIV related
activities); Dental; Environmental Health and a Youth Friendly
Corner. The Youth programme is made up of teenagers, and has
developed a drama group, which visits villages and is engaged in
income generating activities such as making bricks.
The Hospice
provides palliative care for terminally ill patients including anti
retroviral therapy. Currently only ten beds, but there are plans
for ten more. The Hospice will celebrate their fifth anniversary in
March 2006.
The St. Augustine
Community Training Centre was built to assist with training and
meetings for community health workers, traditional birth attendants,
under five clinics and a venue for meetings of other stakeholders in
the area such as Christian Children’s Fund, school teachers and
Headmen, as well as seminars and workshops for the staff.
The Nutrition
Centre was opened in 1990 with the aim of helping mothers who have
malnourished children appreciate food values and to better manage
their resources. Activities at the centre include demonstrations on
the preparation of improved meals, gardening, knitting and sewing
and natural family planning methods.
The Orphans and
Vulnerable Children department was recently established to provide
support from both the Hospital and the Parish to these needy
children in the form of school fees, clothing, and school books.
Most are orphaned as a result of HIV infection. These children stay
with relatives in their home villages and it is these extended
families who receive this support.
A Home Based Care
programme is run by the Parish in cooperation with the Hospital and
visits many homes, following up on patients discharged from the
Hospital and is important in monitoring patients on anti retroviral
drugs.
You can help in
many ways. One is by staying over at the guest house; comprising a
small lounge, three bedrooms (with mosquito nets), shower (cold
water only for that refreshing start to the day) and flush toilet.
Cooking facilities are still limited to braziers. There is more
accommodation available at the training centre (20 plus beds,
dormitory style).
A new museum has
just been constructed to showcase the history of the Soli people who
are indigenous to this area. On display are models of early housing
and cooking utensils as well as traditional medicines. A written
history of the Soli, also on display, explains more. Development of
the museum is on-going and should provide a fascinating insight into
the people of this beautiful area. Surrounding hills and a cave
also provide for excellent hiking in the area.
The way to the
hospital is well signposted: there are large signs on the Great East
Road marked St. Luke’s Mission Hospital (turning to the right from
Lusaka) and then follow the signs on the trees to the Hospital for
another six kilometres. Communications are non-existent at present,
but the Sisters and staff are always delighted to welcome visitors
and take great pride in showing off their small hospital and hospice
and their vitally important work in this community.
St. Luke’s Mission
Hospital is supported in its work by CRS, CHAZ and the Ministry of
Health, but like most rural institutions always needs further help
and assistance. They presently have no resident doctor and rely on
weekly visits by a doctor and dentist from Chongwe. If you aren’t
planning a trip east in the near future, but would still like to
help, donations may be sent to: St. Luke’s Mission Hospital,
Mpanshya, P O Box 32789, Lusaka.
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December
2005