Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi in March of 2023, causing widespread damage and devastation. Over 2.2 million people were affected by the floods and there were over 1,000 casualties.
There was significant destruction to Malawi’s infrastructure, including healthcare facilities that are no longer functional or accessible.
HPIC was able to mobilize 10 Humanitarian Medical Kits (HMKs) for people affected by the disaster as well as 2 pallets of medicines to address a deadly cholera outbreak.
Every year, we also send essential medicines to a refugee camp in Malawi. Refugee camps are often the last resort for displaced individuals and families seeking safety and shelter in foreign lands. While these camps provide a lifeline for those escaping conflict and persecution, they often struggle to meet the basic needs of refugees such as adequate shelter and access to medicine and healthcare services.
For four years, HPIC has partnered with other NGOs to improve access to medicines for those living in the Dzaleka refugee camp in Dowa District Malawi.
Dzaleka was designed to host between 10,000 to 12,000 refugees. However, with approximately 300 new arrivals per month, the camp is currently home to more than 52,000 refugees. Most of Dzaleka’s residents have fled conflict and instability in neighbouring countries and face many challenges, including limited access to healthcare and the spread of infectious diseases within overcrowded camps.
The camp is served by just one small hospital, the Dzaleka Health Centre, which struggles to meet the growing demands of the refugees plus additional Malawians from surrounding communities. Providing primary healthcare services to a catchment population estimated to be over 80,000 people, the Centre faces challenges in sourcing medicines locally and has been forced to rely on donations from abroad.
HPIC and its partner NGOs have worked together to mobilize biannual shipments of Humanitarian Medical Kits (HMKs) to send to the Dzaleka Health Centre. HMKs are comprised of essential medicines, including analgesics, antibiotics, antihistamines, antihypertensives, eye/ear drops, ointments, oral rehydration salts and solution, topical creams and basic medical equipment.
Since this partnership started, HPIC has sent over $600,000 of medicines to Malawi and has helped treat an estimated 30,000 people. HPIC is committed to supplying medicines to vulnerable people in Malawi as long as there is a continued need.
