Things in Malawi seem to be quiet at the moment when it comes to the coronavirus. It appears that COVID 19 has not overcome Malawi as was feared by many. The new case numbers remain low, mostly single digits, and there are few deaths. I feel a sense of relief, but also a sense of reservation as I read and hear update reports on the virus. No doubt cases are under reported and under tested. However, the one good thing is that the median age of the population in Malawi is 18, so most people who get the virus, seem to recover. We continue to pray for God’s protection on Malawi, and in particular, for our Ngodzi community and our LM staff. Lifeline Malawi is still following the pandemic protocols and educating the community to stay alert.

The Lifeline Malawi Health Centre is constant in its fight against disease, in providing other medical services, and in reaching out to the community. We thank Medical Missionary News for it great donation to Lifeline Malawi to help us in this outreach. Teen pregnancies and early marriages still remain an issue in the community. Lifeline Malawi is putting pressure on the local chiefs to address the situation. There is resistance, so we pray that God will soften the hearts of these chiefs, in particular the TA (Traditional Authority – the top Chief in our District). The Lifeline Malawi Youth have been conducting peer outreach to local villages, to present the issues relating to Covid 19 and pregnancies, and to start discussions on these subjects with the young in each community. It should be noted that not all the pregnancies are a result of teen behaviour, some are also due to abuse. Young girls also need to be protected. Often they are reluctant to name the father of the baby they are carrying. We are praying that the Government will rally the various government leaders to create laws that will protect young girls and that cultural practices and behaviours will change to reflect God’s love, will, and wisdom.

One other COVID 19 response that we have recently made was to renovate our maize mill into clinic rooms. This maize mill is located just inside our gates and it was closed in July 2019, due to competition in the area. God knew we needed this space before we did! Lifeline intends to move some of our services into this newly renovated space which will reduce congestion around the main clinic, this being a needed feature during the pandemic. One side of the building has been made into an isolation room for anyone with symptoms of the coronavirus. All patients are triaged as they come through the gates. (photo – the old maize mill is in the background). The other end of the building has become a room for the Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) to run immunization and under-five clinics, thus vacating and freeing up space in the main clinic. In this new space we will also introduce a fortnightly dentistry service. Lifeline Malawi was donated some equipment that was left behind by a group of dentists who made a hasty retreat from Malawi when the pandemic was announced. This a great addition to the service we provide and we praise God for helping us with the donation of equipment and instruments.

We also continue Christian outreach in the community each weekend, sharing the gospel message to all who gather. People are thirsty for the Word of God and are being saved and healed. The photos are of LM’s Sunday Afternoon Christian Fellowship held in our waiting room, and the second photo is a Christian outreach in Chilambula Village near to the LM Health Centre. We also share a daily devotion each morning to waiting patients.