Mzuzu to Lake Malawi (by Dick Stevens)

Some of us started the day with a visit to a Presbyterian Hospital just outside of Mzuzu. It was a step up from the government hospitals we have seen. 28% of the Malawi population is Presbyterian. There are more Presbyterians in Malawi than the US. The hospital has a "Likuniphala" facility attached to it. This is a mixture of maize, soy bean, this is fortified with vitamins. A bag, I would guess it weighs 50 kg, will feed 50 children under five for two weeks. Malnutrition is a real problem for young children here between January and March.

Malawi has only one growing season for most of the country. Maize is the main stable. It is harvested in May or June. By the 1st of the year many are out of food or only have a small supply.

This is a country where 80% of the population is made up of rural subsistence farmers. There are 4 Likuniphala factories in Malawi. At present they buy their ingredients and resell them immediately because they have almost no operating capital. For as little as $2,000 per factory they can buy grain and soy at low prices after the harvest season and inventory the product until the crucial need from January to March. This is a classic village bank type project that can become self-sustaining. A trip like this offers many opportunities for constructive service.

On the parking lot of the Meridien Hotel in Mzuzu, we build 150 wheelchairs with the assistance of the Mzuzu Rotarians, and distributed them to 10 hospitals who came to pick them up. After we were finished we had lunch with the Club and Larry inducted a new member. This Club is less than a year old.