Health

Machinga opens elders’ clinic

They are old, frail and sickly. They no longer work like they did when they were energetic, but have to raise the children of their children who have either died or migrated in search of greener pastures.

Despite caring for generations without whining, senior citizens spend their meagre income on hospital trips and stay due to chronic illnesses.

Malishe screens a client for high blood pressure

Institute for Participatory Engagement and Quality Improvement (Ipeqi), with funding from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has rolled out an initiative to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable elders in Machinga.

The Circle of Care Project includes a clinic exclusively for the elderly to cut extra costs they pay to get quality healthcare when non-communicable diseases (NCD) kick in.

Swayed by voices from community-based circles, Machinga Health Centre has turned an office vacated by Machinga district commissioner into a clinic for ailments that haunt the elderly.

“The NCD clinic provides a safe space where we can get quality care right in our locality,” says Alesi Agadi, 70, from Ndege Village nearby.

The elderly constantly endured lengthy trips and stays at Malosa Health Centre or Machinga District Hospital in Liwonde. The return trip costs about K3 000, enough to buy three meals for the granny and her family.

At 70, Agadi cares for 10 grandchildren following the deaths of her five children, who migrated to the country’s cities as well as South Africa to escape poverty.

She says her children were supportive, unlike many young people who move to towns and cities.

“Death robbed me of my main source of livelihood, leaving me struggling with the rising cost of living, medical care and children’s education,” she states.

For Agadi, the new clinic will lessen the financial hardship that impedes elders from getting screened and treated for deadly NCDs.

“The cost of long travels to Malosa or Liwonde is no small change for elderly persons already struggling to raise grandchildren and pay for medical bills due to age and chronic diseases,” she laments.

Agadi leads a circle of 20, almost twice the target membership.

“We started off with 12 members who benefit from Ipaqi project, but the number has almost doubled as most of our peers volunteered to join since it provides a safe space where we share our sorrows and ways to overcome our harsh realities,” she says.

The sorrows range from costly searches for medical treatment to discriminatory attacks on the elderly accused of witchcraft.

Ipaqi board chairperson Chrissy Thakwalakwa says the circles that target grandparents raising orphaned and vulnerable children without external support have become wheels of change.

She said: “The NCD clinic is one of the fruits of our work, which focuses on participatory engagement,” she states.

“We sit down with members of communities where we work and listen to their voices to come up with solutions to their challenges.”

In July, the circles in partnership with the NGO petitioned the district health management committee not to leave anyone behind when it comes to the treatment for the silent killers.

“NCD clinics are vital because the elderly are haunted by numerous ailments every day. They risk sliding into worse poverty when health facilities are far from where they live,” Thakwalakwa explains.

The targeted silent killers include diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, epilepsy, rheumatism and dementia.

“The senior citizens need a sanctuary where they can access care at no cost and without being unfairly accused of depleting medicines for young people,” she states.

Clinician Nkali Akuzike, who is in charge of Machinga Health Centre, says the new clinic conforms to the Ministry of Health’s commitment to ensure everyone gets quality health services close to where they live without financial hardships fuelling deadly delays.

The government pledges to ensure everyone travels no more than five kilometres to get health care.

“When Ipaqi approached us to introduce their work and health concerns from the elderly in our community, we knew we had to do something about barriers to NCD screening and treatment. After discussion, we identified a room to put the services closer and under one roof,” he says.

The NGO also supported training for health workers and equipped the clinic with basic props.

“We are glad that our partners did not only support the refurbishment of the room housing the clinic, but also empowered our staff with necessary skills and equipment so the elderly could get quality services closer to their homes,” Akuzike says.

Clinician Frank Malishe was among the trained health workers.

He splits the difference: “As healthcare providers, we used to assist the elderly like any other patient as our professional oath requires us to guard against discrimination.

“However, our knowledge and commitment to leave no one behind intensified after the training. We now assist our elderly clients better, paying attention to their special needs.”

But he appeals for more support as the abandoned district council complex has no toilets, electricity and running water, which are vital for clinic services.

Partners in Health donated registration cards as well as tools for diagnosing high blood pressure, diabetes and body weight to the NCD clinic.

Meanwhile, community health workers are working closely with the circles of care to detect NCD patients in surrounding villages.

“We shall go to them and work with them to ensure that our senior citizens enjoy better lives and health services as we strive for a just and an inclusive society,” says health surveillance assistant Mike Kathumba Kathumba.

Related Articles

Back to top button