"Kapiri" means "on the hill" in the local Chichewa language. That is the place of the nearby roadside village.
Kapiri Hospital serves a population of more than 50.000 in a very rural district. People mostly live in their small villages, or as tenants on tobacco estates. The main income is generated by agricultural acitivities. A tenant, for example, receives roughly 50 Cent as a salary per day. This makes the population one of the poorest of the country.

People suffer from different diseases according to the seasons. From October on, the food supplies in the families are getting scarce. Therefore, we receive increasing numbers of malnourished adults and children, who are treated in malnutrition rehabilitation centre. Rainy season (November to April) is Malaria season, since the Anopheles Mosquito which transfers Malaria,can develop only with enough water. Malaria can be cured using the right medicines, if it is treated on time.
During the last decade, HIV/AIDS has spread also in the district of Mchinji. Countrywide, about 15% of the population are infected. Many AIDS-Patients are coming to Kapiri, suffering from TB, Diarhoea and malignant tumors. AIDS can be treated with drugs to stop the HIV virus from multiplying. Currently, we have 400 adults under treatment.
During the last years, the hospital has established an AIDS treatment program. Our contribution was a laboratory upgrade, as well as some medicines.
Together with the local responsibles, we initiated an AIDS treatment program in 2004. It started with 6 children, now there are 40 HIV-positive children under treatment.

Mostly, children can be cured by a blood transfusion and Quinine, if they are brought early enough to the hospital. Unfortunately, parents often bring their children too late.

Important: travellers are not immune to Malaria, and run a high risk to contract the disease. Without treatment, Malaria mostly leads to death. Therefore, prophylactic drugs have to be taken. Before going to a Malaria area (or generally to a tropical area), please search for medical counselling regarding Malaria and vaccinations.

Many children come malnourished, with Menigitis or AIDS. Thanks to the treatment in Kapiri, many of the children with Meningitis do survive.

Since the year 2004, there is the possibility of treating HIV-infected children. The pediatric AIDS project was initiated by our association. We hve bought the necessary drugs, taught the staff about how to use them and how to train the parents, and we are very happy about the small success. Up to now, there are 40 children under treatment, and the medicines are povided by the government of Malawi.

The hospital is managed by nuns belonging to the catholic order of Carmelite Missionaries. One of the sisters, Maria-José (lower left), is the Medical Officer. Sister Innocentia (lower right) takes care of the housekeeping, Sister Inmaculada (right) is the Administrator. Sister Clotilde (to the back) works in the pharmacy, and sister Angelina is working as a teacher in the nearby school.

The Sisters and their malawian Colleagues have become a wonderful team over the years. Since the sisters are always in the place, and speak Chichewa well, the know the problems and needs of the local people. Their work, which we came to know during our visits, has already helped many people out of a grave health or financial problem. For this, countless former patients, with AIDS or without, remain thankful to them. These pages should serve as a memorial to their selfless, admirable work.