Mission Organization: World Gospel Mission (WGM)
Profile: Over a period of 97 years, the hospital has developed from a single missionary doctor who did a course in tropical medicine, into a reasonably well-equipped 250-bed facility. It has pediatrics, surgical, general male and female wards with isolation rooms, tuberculosis, maternity and private wards, a labor room, two general theatres, outpatient department, family health clinic, ARV-clinic and supportive departments (physiotherapy, pharmacy, administration). There is also an ophthalmic department with ophthalmic theatre. Its primary catchment area is the surrounding rural community of 64,000 people; however, it serves patients from all over Malawi as well as from neighboring countries. It offers in- and outpatient care locally and conducts mobile clinics in its catchment area. Yearly 53,000 outpatient are seen, 19,000 people are admitted, 1,700 people are operated on in the general theatre, 2,500 ophthalmic operations are done and 3,000 deliveries are conducted. Some operations are of a specialist nature (e.g. Vesicovaginal Fistula repair, cataract removal and lens implantation); provision of these services lightens the workload of the nearest referral hospital (Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe). The Health Department supervises governmental and non-governmental Health Centers within its catchment area (nine in total) and CCAP Health Centers throughout the Central Region of Malawi (10 in total). The Hospital has negotiated a Service Agreement with the District Health Office (DHO) of Lilongwe. This enables the surrounding community to access obstetrical and five other services free of charge with the government paying for the expenses. It has built a reputation of offering good quality care, explaining the number of people coming from remote areas.
Travel: A driver from the hospital will pick you up. In-country transportation is $100 USD roundtrip.
Time Difference: +6 hours Daylight Savings Time (EST), USA +7 hours (Eastern Standard Time) USA
Location: The hospital is located one (1) hour southeast of Lilongwe.
People: Malawians find greeting very important. Even if you meet a group of people, it will be appreciated if you greet every person separately.
Language: Official working language is English, but most patients speak only Chichewa
Climate: Winter in July-August can be fairly cold: 59 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, in the day, 41 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night). Realize that there is no central heating and the houses and hospital are built to keep the heat out (bring warm clothes and sweater). The hottest season is in October-November, just before the rainy season starts (77-95 degrees Fahrenheit in the day, 68- 77 degrees Fahrenheit at night). In the rainy season, November to April, there are usually daily thunderstorms, but it can rain throughout the day. Roads and paths in Nkhoma are not tarred, so your shoes can get rather messy this time of year.
Housing: There is one guesthouse near the hospital with single and shared rooms and dormitory, shared bathrooms and a well-equipped kitchen to prepare your own meals and living room. There is a fridge, freezer, oven and microwave available. The guest house will have dish towels, linens and bath towels. The guesthouse is a nice place to stay if you like company of other students/ visitors. If you like to have some more privacy, or are coming with a group, you can consider staying at the lodge. A couple of the options are more independent/autonomous so the visitor would buy their own groceries, including toilet paper and paper towels. For a small fee you can have washing done. The electrical socket type in Nkhoma is South-African.
Food: If you provide ingredients (yeast, flour, oil, salt, sugar) someone can bake bread for you. You are advised to buy some food when you are arriving, so that at least you have something to eat in your first week at the guesthouse (think about rice, pasta, bread, peanut butter, jam, and fruit)
For More Information: Contact Karen Holden by email or by phone at: (828) 588-2064.
Mission Organization: World Gospel Mission (WGM)
Profile: Over a period of 97 years, the hospital has developed from a single missionary doctor who did a course in tropical medicine, into a reasonably well-equipped 250-bed facility. It has pediatrics, surgical, general male and female wards with isolation rooms, tuberculosis, maternity and private wards, a labor room, two general theatres, outpatient department, family health clinic, ARV-clinic and supportive departments (physiotherapy, pharmacy, administration). There is also an ophthalmic department with ophthalmic theatre. Its primary catchment area is the surrounding rural community of 64,000 people; however, it serves patients from all over Malawi as well as from neighboring countries. It offers in- and outpatient care locally and conducts mobile clinics in its catchment area. Yearly 53,000 outpatient are seen, 19,000 people are admitted, 1,700 people are operated on in the general theatre, 2,500 ophthalmic operations are done and 3,000 deliveries are conducted. Some operations are of a specialist nature (e.g. Vesicovaginal Fistula repair, cataract removal and lens implantation); provision of these services lightens the workload of the nearest referral hospital (Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe). The Health Department supervises governmental and non-governmental Health Centers within its catchment area (nine in total) and CCAP Health Centers throughout the Central Region of Malawi (10 in total). The Hospital has negotiated a Service Agreement with the District Health Office (DHO) of Lilongwe. This enables the surrounding community to access obstetrical and five other services free of charge with the government paying for the expenses. It has built a reputation of offering good quality care, explaining the number of people coming from remote areas.
Travel: A driver from the hospital will pick you up. In-country transportation is $100 USD roundtrip.
Time Difference: +6 hours Daylight Savings Time (EST), USA +7 hours (Eastern Standard Time) USA
Location: The hospital is located one (1) hour southeast of Lilongwe.
People: Malawians find greeting very important. Even if you meet a group of people, it will be appreciated if you greet every person separately.
Language: Official working language is English, but most patients speak only Chichewa
Climate: Winter in July-August can be fairly cold: 59 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, in the day, 41 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night). Realize that there is no central heating and the houses and hospital are built to keep the heat out (bring warm clothes and sweater). The hottest season is in October-November, just before the rainy season starts (77-95 degrees Fahrenheit in the day, 68- 77 degrees Fahrenheit at night). In the rainy season, November to April, there are usually daily thunderstorms, but it can rain throughout the day. Roads and paths in Nkhoma are not tarred, so your shoes can get rather messy this time of year.
Housing: There is one guesthouse near the hospital with single and shared rooms and dormitory, shared bathrooms and a well-equipped kitchen to prepare your own meals and living room. There is a fridge, freezer, oven and microwave available. The guest house will have dish towels, linens and bath towels. The guesthouse is a nice place to stay if you like company of other students/ visitors. If you like to have some more privacy, or are coming with a group, you can consider staying at the lodge. A couple of the options are more independent/autonomous so the visitor would buy their own groceries, including toilet paper and paper towels. For a small fee you can have washing done. The electrical socket type in Nkhoma is South-African.
Food: If you provide ingredients (yeast, flour, oil, salt, sugar) someone can bake bread for you. You are advised to buy some food when you are arriving, so that at least you have something to eat in your first week at the guesthouse (think about rice, pasta, bread, peanut butter, jam, and fruit)
For More Information: Contact Karen Holden by email or by phone at: (828) 588-2064.