We are thrilled to announce the expansion of GAIA’s Mobile Health Clinic (MHC) program to a third rural district, Mangochi, where two new clinics will provide clinical care to underserved villagers at ten sites every week! In just the first two months of operation, MHC staff provided over 6,400 client visits, including 313 malaria visits for children under 5, for whom malaria is a key driver of mortality.

With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and spread of the Delta variant in Malawi, maintaining access to health services in rural communities is critically important. GAIA Malawi staff have worked tirelessly to provide accessible care in Mangochi, and we are already seeing a difference. The team’s Clinical Officer, James Selemani (who led one of the Elizabeth Taylor MHC's in Mulanje for more than a decade before returning to Mangochi where he grew up), notes that the clinics have not only a direct impact on the community’s health but an economic impact by avoiding transportation costs to seek care. In poor rural areas like those served by GAIA, James explains, these savings go directly into daily necessities, like food, further improving community health. Thank you for your ongoing support as we expand our reach and work to tackle the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We remain inspired and humbled by GAIA's frontline healthcare workers and staff members in Malawi, as their work during this time is urgently needed.

Welcome home, James!