Malawi

]], [[portugal

Coordinates: 13°30′S 34°00′E / 13.500°S 34.000°E / -13.500; 34.000

Malawi (/məˈlɔːwi/, /məˈlɑːwi/ or /ˈmæləwi/; Chichewa: [maláβi] or [maláwi]), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Malawi is over 118,000 km² (45,560 sq mi) with an estimated population of 16,777,547 (July 2013 est.). Its capital is Lilongwe, which is also Malawi's largest city; the second largest is Blantyre and the third is Mzuzu. The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, an old name of the Nyanja people that inhabit the area. The country is also nicknamed "The Warm Heart of Africa".

Malawi is among the smallest countries in Africa. Lake Malawi takes about a third of Malawi's area.

Health

Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living organism. In humans it is the ability of individuals or communities to adapt and self-manage when facing physical, mental or social challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined health in its broader sense in its 1948 constitution as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This definition has been subject to controversy, in particular as lacking operational value and because of the problem created by use of the word "complete" Other definitions have been proposed, among which a recent definition that correlates health and personal satisfaction. Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International Classifications, including the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), are commonly used to define and measure the components of health. Health is that balanced condition of the living organism in which the integral, harmonious performance of the vital functions tends to the preservation of the organism and the normal development of the individual.

Healthcare in Malawi

Healthcare in Malawi and its limited resources are inadequate to fully address factors plaguing the population, including infant mortality and the very high burden of diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Health infrastructure

Malawi has a three tier healthcare system in which each level is connected by a patient referral system. However the system is just a piece of a borrowed theory from western national health western systems and just other many other systems in Malawi, it does not function. This is largely due to lack of manpower, lack of skills set, overpopulation, lack of equipment/technology, corruption,lack of political commitment, poor prioritisation in budgeting and low motivation among personnel. According to World Heath Organization Report, Malawi heath system ranks number 185 out of 190. The figurative picture of the heath system can be created by understanding the indicators of a failing system or a non existence of the system. There is no government emergency system in place, no ambulated paramedic response system (no 112 no 999). In April 2012 the then State President surfered a cardiac arrest which resulted to his death due to lack of the drug at the referral hospital which the doctors could have use. Malawi has only one qualified cardiologist who is an expatriatebbased at a private hospital. There is no aeromedical facility. Only war affected countries have lower ranking than Malawi. There is no record system for patients and most common well researched medication are not available rendering i.e none of the heath or cancer medication dispensed in UK is available in government hospitals. There is an uncontrolled open circulation of internationally banned drugs or expired drugs in free markets.

Amref Health Africa

Amref Health Africa (formerly the African Medical and Research Foundation) is the largest African health development non-governmental international organisation based in Africa, committed to improving health and health care in Africa. Headquartered in Nairobi,Kenya, Amref Health Africa has offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, and regional hubs in Southern and West Africa based in South Africa and Senegal respectively. In addition, Amref Health Africa works in more than 30 African countries through its outreach, training and laboratory strengthening activities.

Amref Health Africa’ was founded in 1957, when three pioneering surgeons who wanted to take health care to places where there were no doctors or medical assistance used aircraft and radios to reach remote and neglected communities. They became known as the Flying Doctors of East Africa, which later evolved to become the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), now known as Amref Health Africa.