April 2025

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are in the season of Lent where we reflect the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The book of Isaiah 53:4-5 leads, ‘Surely, he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed”. This passage reminds us that the punishment and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ brought us everlasting life and forgiveness of our sins.

This month’s newsletter tells the story of Smith Patulani, an under-five child who is a patient at our Msambo clinic. Smith Patulani was born on 23rd October 2023 at Daeyang Luke Hospital in Lilongwe. According to Smith’s mother, Modester Patulani, Smith was born through a normal spontaneous vertex delivery and there were no complications during birth and throughout the postpartum period. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Patulani hails from Kabula village, Traditional/Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe District. The Village is not far from our Msambo clinic.

In February 2025, Smith got sick. He was presenting with fever, vomiting and general body
weakness. Upon seeing this, his parents took him to a local hospital, the Chankhungu Health Center. Chankhungu Health Center is one of the government health centers close to Smith’s village. At Chankhungu, Smith was tested for Malaria and the result came out positive. He was given a first line Malaria treatment (lumefantrine artemether) which he took for three days at home, and he got well.

One Monday morning, in early March, Smith’s father discovered that Smith’s lower limbs were not functional. He informed the mother, and they were both shocked, knowing that the child was fine after completing his Malaria treatment in February. They then visited the Lutheran Mobile Clinic at Msambo on 17th March 2025 where they met one of our Clinical Officers – Davie Khumula.

At the clinic, Davie asked the mother some questions including the medical history of the child. The mother explained everything and of course the malaria that he had in February. Davie also asked if the child received the polio vaccine, and the mother said the child completed all the vaccines including the polio vaccine. The child was then examined for any possible signs of malaria and there was none. Davie then examined the child’s legs for muscle strength, reflexes and muscle tone. He found that the muscle strength and reflexes were absent and had decreased muscle tone. He then explained more about the child’s condition to the parents and his plan of referring him to a hospital, and its importance. Smith was then referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital for further investigation for the possible cause of the paralysis, management and initiation of physiotherapy treatment. We look forward to hearing more from Smith’s parents and how he is coping with physiotherapy treatment.

Lastly, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the people who think about us. Your prayers keep us going. Your various donations have been of a great impact to us and that is why we keep running. May the good Lord continue blessing you and all that you do.

As we journey through this season of Lent, may we embrace reflection and renewal, fostering a spirit of compassion and gratitude in our hearts.

Happy Easter!

Your Sister in Christ,

Violet Chikwatu
Nurse In charge.