For three unforgettable days, Mseche Health Clinic in Lilongwe was a hive of activity and surgical precision rarely seen in Malawi’s rural health centres.
Children giggled as they waited for paediatric check-ups, women chatted and smiled broadly after receiving long-overdue care.
An elderly man with a cleft lip grinned minutes before being ushered into a mobile surgical unit by Dr Baek-Kwon Lee, a plastic surgeon from Seoul, Korea.
The medical outreach was powered by 16 self-funded Korean medical volunteers who flew thousands of kilometres to treat patients and stand in solidarity with the Malawian people.
The medical mission was organised by MediAccess, a Christian organisation.
Daeyang Luke Hospital coordinated the surgion’s rural inroads in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Lilongwe District Health Office.
From July 7 to 9, the Korean medics offered free medical services in plastic surgery; ear, nose and throat; urology; orthopaedics; obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine and paediatrics.
“This was not just a clinic. It was a revival of dignity and humanity. You could feel the emotion in every handshake, every smile and every tear,” said Daeyang Luke Hospital acting director Dr Ha Soo Hwang, the outreach’s on-site coordinator.
At the heart of the mission was the Zion Team, one of eight medical teams within MediAccess that primarily serve in Africa.
Leading the clinical work was Dr Baek-Kwon Lee, a renowned plastic surgeon, supported by paediatricians, gynaecologists, ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists and nurses.
The healthcare workers chose to spend their annual leave offering care where it is most needed—rural areas where clinics are underfunded, few and far apart.
His fellow plastic surgeon, Dr PK Lee shared the volunteers’ commitment to providing free medical services in underserved regions.
“Our purpose is not personal enjoyment or comfort. We willingly give our time and resources to share the love of God freely, just as we have freely received it. It’s about using what we’ve learned to bless others,” he said.
MediAccess deploys the 10-day missions in July or August. Volunteers use their entire annual leave, often with additional paid days, to serve in some of Africa’s most medically underserved areas.
Their sacrifice and dedication was visible in every surgery at Mseche. Patients did not just receive care; they felt seen and valued.
“This was not charity. This was solidarity,” said Dr. Baek-Kwon Lee. “We didn’t come to fix people. We came to be with them, to share skills, to listen and to love.”
A child with a cleft lip received a thorough consultation. An elderly man with chronic ear, nose and throat complications finally got a diagnosis. Women who silently endured reproductive health complications for years were treated with professionalism and care.
Chrissie Chimoto, 32, said: “For five years, I have lived with pain and embarrassment because of a condition I couldn’t afford to treat.
“Today, I was examined with care and treated like a human being. I will never forget this day.”
Joseph Kachulu, 68, has struggled with hearing difficulties for over a decade.
“I didn’t think I would ever see a specialist in my lifetime. But today, I sat with a doctor who explained my condition clearly. I feel respected and hopeful again,” he said.
These voices echoed the broader impact, celebratory mood and renewed sense of dignity the team left behind.
Founded in 2024, MediAccess is part of Onnuri Church’s Christian Medical Network and works in partnership with Tyrannus International Mission.
The outreach seeks to establish lasting partnerships between Korean health institutions and Malawi’s healthcare system.
Among others, efforts are underway to expand collaboration with Daeyang Luke Hospital and public health authorities, including medical training, infrastructure support and knowledge exchange.
“This mission was a seed,” said a local contact. “Our duty now is to water it; to help grow a future where Malawians can receive world-class care in their own communities.”
For Malawi, where specialist access remains out of reach for many, the outreach offered more than just medical relief. It showed what is possible when faith, skill and commitment work together in service of others.
As the volunteers departed Mseche on July 9, there were no speeches or ceremonies — just quiet goodbyes, broad smiles, healed patients and a promise left behind.
A new chapter is beginning—one of healing, dignity, and rising hope.
