A letter from Barbara Nagy in Malawi
November 2012
Dear friends,
The newly renovated pediatrics ward at Nkhoma Hospital
We don’t generally expect to receive Christmas presents this early, but I have already received a huge one in the form of a beautiful, clean, spacious, electricity- and light-filled renovated pediatrics ward at Nkhoma with almost twice the number of beds!!! English teachers in the past taught me not to use so many exclamation points, but I couldn’t help myself. This is such a wonderful gift from God and many supporters to all of our staff and patients that we are beside ourselves with joy and thankfulness. The huge wave of critically sick children crashing into the ward each rainy season will be much better cared for with a new treatment/triage area with oxygen, adequate space, supplies easily at hand, and other emergency equipment. The very limited staff will be more easily able to monitor the most critically ill patients through large windows that separate the treatment area from the highest-care beds. All sorts of people will be able to wash their hands in the sinks plentifully dispersed throughout the ward. IV fluids and medicines will be prepared in a much more secure and safe area. There is space for what we hope will be a small X-ray and lab someday. Tiny babies will be able to keep warmer with ceramic heaters safely built into the walls of a small nursery, and we will finally be able to isolate some of the most contagious patients (meningitis, cholera, rabies, tuberculosis, etc.) in isolation rooms on the pediatrics ward. Finally and not least, it is a lovely space decorated with child-friendly pictures and stickers so coming to the hospital might not be such a frightening experience for our little patients.
Mothers waiting for group counseling.
We in the Nagy family are continuing our studies in Atlanta, Georgia, and enjoying being in closer contact with many of our friends. My studies at Rollins have definitely taxed the old brain cells, but we hope and pray that they will be a clear way forward to children not needing the hospitalizations I described above. Some of our most skilled and dedicated community health workers go out to remote areas where people don’t have access to other health care, giving vaccines and prenatal services, including HIV testing, screening for malnutrition, and a whole range of preventive health services like bed nets, family planning and information about water and sanitation. We were blessed this past year to have chaplains to assist with our work so that we may better support our patients spiritually, but we are still in need of funds to provide a mobile medical vehicle that will enable us to carry more people to outreach clinics.
Giving immunizations.
As Christmas approaches, we especially want you to know how much your support, prayers and concern have meant to us at Nkhoma over the past year, and how much they mean to our continued work. Please prayerfully consider continuing to support Nkhoma Hospital, which is ECO# E051772 (you can give online using the link below), in this coming year. Peace be with all of you, and God’s gracious presence,
Barbara Nagy and family for all of Nkhoma
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 106
The 2013 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 117
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