CURE Malawi Celebrates 20 years of Medical Care with New Surgical Centre

Few places in southern Africa have delivered more hope and healing than Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital in Malawi (“CURE Malawi”)

Last year, CURE Malawi performed over 2,000 life-changing surgeries for children suffering from treatable disabilities. Children come to CURE with broken bones and spirits and leave with healthy bodies, smiling faces, and the hope of Christ.

The hospital recently celebrated 20 years of service to the children and nation of Malawi — 20 years of hope and healing for some of the country’s most overlooked people.

Since its founding in 2002, CURE Malawi has provided over 29,000 surgical procedures, trained 745 medical professionals, and introduced over 160,000 people to Christ through partnerships with local churches. 

While CURE Malawi is pleased with its impactful history, it is preparing for an even brighter future.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the hospital’s new surgical centre was held on 2nd December 2022, with local and national leaders in attendance, including the Minister of Health, the Honourable Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP. 

The shovel used by the Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP, in the groundbreaking,
was the same one used in CURE Malawi hospital’s original groundbreaking in 2001.

“Deep down in my heart, thank you, CURE Malawi for what you do for the children of Malawi. These are all of our children. The ones being served here. The work being done isn’t just for the patients; it is for all of us,” said the Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP.

Elly Chemey, Executive Director, Dr. Samuel Maina, Medical Director, and the Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP, visited children in the ward.

The new surgical centre is part of a $4.0M+ multi-year plan to upgrade the charitable hospital’s facilities, positioning it well for the next twenty years of serving children across Malawi.

In addition to the surgical centre, the hospital will expand its children’s ward and outpatient department and add a patient hostel to provide long-term recovery for patients traveling long distances for care.

CURE Malawi has also expanded its services with the addition of a full-time plastics and reconstructive surgeon who treats children suffering from cleft lip, cleft palate, and severe burns contractures.  The combined orthopaedic and plastics service will also afford training opportunities for the nation’s physicians in training. CURE specialist surgeons provide training, coaching, and mentoring to young orthopaedic doctors from Malawi and the region. CURE Malawi is a certified training site for COSECSA fellows. 

“For two decades, Beit-CURE Hospital in Malawi has provided strategic, high-quality medical service to children who are suffering in Malawi,” said Elly Chemey, Executive Director. “We have worked alongside local stakeholders and the Ministry of Health to prepare our hospital to have an even greater impact over the next 20 years of service to God’s children. The best is yet to come!”

The Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP, Minister of Health, addresses guests at the ceremony.

The hospital is a fixture in the city of Blantyre, with a well-earned reputation for high-quality medical care, research, and training. It was originally funded by a grant from The Beit Trust, an independent charity established by financier and philanthropist Alfred Beit in 1906.

[This article was originally posted to the CURE International website on 3rd December 2022.]

Photo of the Melissa Hall

About the Author:

Melissa joined CURE UK in June 2021, heading up Marketing, Communications, and Events. On her visit to CURE Children's Hospital of Zimbabwe in September 2022 she experienced the people and the environment that makes a CURE hospital so special! She makes every effort to communicate this to readers everywhere.