This sponsor-a-bed programme enables staff at Mulanje Mission Hospital to offer treatment to patients who do not have enough money to pay for the costs of their hospitalisation.
The 192 beds in the hospital are never empty, with each bed being re-occupied as soon as it is vacated by the previous occupant. At today's level of costs, around £600 (US$1,000) makes one bed available for approximately 40 patients during a one-year period.
MMH News, issued in July 2011, has this to say about the current need:
"We are utterly dependent on our donor partners - individuals, church partners and development organizations throughout the world, for more than 50% of the running costs of this hospital. Your contribution is vital. Drug costs are rising all the time and nearly our entire budget for essential medicines and clinical supplies comes from donations. Most of the energy of our senior management team is spent on raising funds to keep the doors open and running the hospital as economically as we can without compromising patient care."
"We have an agreement with government to cover the costs of essential maternal and child health services for our local population. All other patients are charged user fees, but patient fees cannot possibly cover all the costs of care here in Malawi. If we were to charge fees at normal rates most patients would not be able to afford health services. As a Christian hospital , those in need of medical treatment, but with no means to pay, are never turned away."
A call to sponsor a hospital bed at Mulanje Mission Hospital
MMH are relaunching this programme this month - July 2011 - to reflect the real costs of providing inpatient care. While £600 (US$1000) pays for one hospital bed to provide care for up to 40 patients during the whole year, any contribution you can offer will make a difference and can save lives.
If you would like to know how you can sponsor-a-bed at MMH, please contact us for details.
Ideally, the hospital is looking for donors who can commit to support the cost of one or several beds for a year but any donations towards this need are always welcome, whatever the sum being given.
To find out how you can support this project, contact the Mission Overseas Office, quoting the Project Reference, shown in the header above.
Please be sure to include your name and/or the name of your Church group or the organisation you are representing, along with day-time contact details.
UPDATED: 14 July 2011
