In May and June 2022, Woman Arise undertook fundraising fitness challenges to raise funds for the procurement of medical equipment for two maternity clinics in Malawi. The clinics were Area 25 Maternity Clinic in Lilongwe and St Andrews Hospital Maternity Wing in Mtunthama, Kasungu.
The first fundraising activity was on the 22nd of May when Patricia Kulipa Chimangeni took part in the Greater Manchester 10KM run. This was followed by a month-long plank challenge in June, The plank challenge was initiated by Dr Mary Mkandawire. The fitness challenges are among the activities that Woman Arise run under the Afrofit Program which promotes women’s Mental Health and Fitness.
The choice for Woman Ariseto fundraise for the maternity clinics comes as a response to The United Nations Agency for International Development’s report (USAID) report that states that Malawi has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally, currently estimated at 439 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (USAID, 2021). It is expected that the donations from the fundraising will contribute to buying equipment for the two maternity clinics, thereby, alleviating some of the problems that the clinics are currently experiencing.
A little bit about the clinics
· The maternity clinics are Area 25 Maternity Clinic, which is based in Area 25, Lilongwe, Malawi. The clinic has acquired a new labour ward. This ward has 8 delivery rooms, 1 emergency room, a nurses’ station, a resuscitation station and some stores. The donations raised in these two activities are earmarked to purchase sterilising equipment for the new ward.
· St Andrews Maternity Clinic at St Andrews Hospital in Mtunthama, Kasungu. Woman Arise partnered with Medic Malawi to promote, among other things, better health, and wellbeing at St Andrew's Maternity clinic. The donations raised in this run will be earmarked for portable oxygen cylinders, among other things.
In addition to the above needs, the clinics need assistance with equipment such as wheelchairs, delivery beds, baby cots, mattresses, beddings, and portable oxygen cylinders, just to mention a few. The GoFundMe account will therefore remain open in case people or organisations want to donate more.
The Target
Our target was to raise £15,000 (approx.) MK15,000,000.00. So far we have raised £1,426 of which £900 worth of equipment was donated to the two clinics on the 21st of June by Patricia Chimangeni
Vote of Thanks
Woman Arise organisation would like this thank everybody and organisations who have supported this initiative financially and morally in May and June. May God bless you.
Founders: Mary Kachitsa and Tikhala Chimpango.
Trustees: Barbara Makhalira, Tamanda Kalua and Chrissy Mlotha
By Patricia Kulipa Chimangeni – Women Arise desk
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