I arrived at Bwaila (bottom) hospital in a giant truck. It seemed out of place. As my colleague opened the door on her way to work, I heard singing. Many, strong, voices singing in unison in the call and response format that defines the African oral tradition. It's beautiful. I asked the driver who was singing and for what. The women sing every day, he says. They learn how to take care of their babies. They learn about labor, delivery, nutrition, family planning, etc. And then they sing about it. Every morning. Half seven.
And then they wait. Lots of waiting.
Malawi has one of the world's lowest physician-to-patient ratio. The numbers aren't clear, ranging from 1:50,000 to 1:10,000 depending on how "physician" is defined; Malawi uses trained nurses, clinical and medical officers to provide the majority of care. It lacks the capacity to offer medical residency training to prepare new physicians. Many positions are unfilled and other still are underfunded. So the women and all the other patients will continue waiting. Waiting in line, waiting for an answer, waiting for care.
Malawi has one of the world's lowest physician-to-patient ratio. The numbers aren't clear, ranging from 1:50,000 to 1:10,000 depending on how "physician" is defined; Malawi uses trained nurses, clinical and medical officers to provide the majority of care. It lacks the capacity to offer medical residency training to prepare new physicians. Many positions are unfilled and other still are underfunded. So the women and all the other patients will continue waiting. Waiting in line, waiting for an answer, waiting for care.
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