Makupo Development Group
160 Hebert H4N2K5 Ville Saint Laurent, QC, Canada

Moni Abwenzi March 2020 COVID 19 UPDATE We are all feeling the effects of the global pandemic caused by the emergence of COVID-19. As our Canadian government and healthcare workers scramble to slow the spread of the virus, countries like Malawi are not so fortunate. The Malawian government has been in turmoil for months following a court decision that found last May's Presidential election fraudulent. With new elections slated for July, politicians are campaigning instead of... focusing on readying their already fragile health systems for the inevitable spread of Covid-19. To date, protective equipment and test kits from the World Health Organization have not been distributed to District Hospitals or Health Centres and there has been no training or information provided to healthcare workers or the general public. With cases of COVID-19 now in Tanzania and Zambia, it is just a matter of time before Malawi also reports cases. In an effort to help our colleagues and friends in Makupo and at the Chilanga Health Centre get prepared, we have provided funding for the purchase of essential medicines and protective equipment. This has included the purchase of masks, gloves, gowns and plenty of soap and handwashing stations. The Health Centre medical staff, Mike Besten and Sheila Sokole are actively holding workshops and information sessions for our volunteer Village Health Workers as well as other community leaders. The Health Centre currently has one functioning Oxygen Concentrator. This will be inadequate to meet the needs of very sick patients with COVID-19, which is a severe respiratory illness. Given the situation, prevention will be paramount in saving lives. Please consider donating so that we can continue to support the heroic efforts being made by the Chilanga Health Centre staff to respond to this potentially catastrophic situation. The Health Centre currently sees 70 patients a day and supports 26 Palliative Care patients in their homes. Thank you! http://www.makupo.org/make-a-donation.html

Moni Abwenzi October 2019 News Fundraising update! In September, we launched our first fundraising campaign specifically for the Chilanga Health Centre and we have had a wonderful response! We have not yet reached our goal of $25,000, but we are closing in With the funds received so far, the roof has been repaired and painted, and the Health Centre is now ready for the rainy season. ... The plumbing work has been finished and the sinks installed. In addition, rain jackets have been ordered for the 30 village health workers. These volunteers travel by bicycle to neighbouring villages to refer patients and do health and prevention education. The jackets, which will have Chilanga Health Centre boldly displayed on the back, will keep these hardworking volunteers dry, and help raise awareness of the health centre. Visit our website at www.makupo.org to learn more about our work. We sincerely appreciate any donation, big or small. This health centre has already saved many lives andwith support from donors like youwill realize its potential to improve the health of thousands of rural Malawians. Thank you! Thanks to all our friends who have already contributed. If you haven’t already done so, or know someone who might be interested in making a donation, here is how you can do it: (please include your full name and address if you would like a tax receipt) PayPal: Via http://www.makupo.org/make-a-donation.html Zikomo For generous contributions from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Social Justice Fund (OPSEU), Vanier College, Association des retraitées et des retraités de la FNEEQ (AREF), MIC Sisters (Sister Missionaries of Immaculate Conception), EKM Architecture, Engaging Networks, K2 Foundation, Royal West Academy and Norton Rose Fulbright Canada.

Makupo Development Group focuses on small scale support for infrastructure, water, health, education, income generation, and environment that help break the cycle of poverty by working with the villagers and with the surrounding educational institutions (3 schools) and the local health clinic. An underlying principle of our work is capacity building, equipping individuals with the understanding, skills and access to information and training to enable them to improve their situation without outside assistance. Find out more by visiting our website http://www.makupo.org/

Makupo Development Group 2019 Fundraising Campaign GOAL = $25,000 The Chilanga Health Centre is growing and is now serving 80 patients a day. The Centre’s dedicated healthcare team, Mike Besten (Medical Assistant), Sheila Sokole (Nurse/Midwife Technician) and Tina Mbewe (Ward Attendant), are working tirelessly to meet the needs of the community. Thirty Village Health Workers (all volunteers) support the team by sharing health education and prevention practices in their villag...es and encouraging early referrals to the centre. There are future plans to expand existing programs, such as Palliative Care and Family Planning, to include youth-friendly services, HIV testing and counselling, labour and delivery, to name just a few. However, before moving forward we must first complete some infrastructure. The roof needs to be finished before the rainy season arrives in November. Only then can we paint and furnish the new section of the health center. We have a brand new well but indoor plumbing needs to be completed to ensure proper sanitation. Here is how you can make a donation (please include your full name and address if you would like a tax receipt): www.makupo.org where you can also learn more about our work. We sincerely appreciate any donation, big or small. This health centre has already saved many lives andwith support from donors like youwill realize its potential to improve the health of thousands of rural Malawians. Thank you! Gwen Schulman, Chair Melodie Hicks, Vice-Chair & Health Advisor

Exciting News! Official recognition in Canada and Malawi RECOGNITION IN CANADA We are excited to announce that the Makupo Development Group, which started out as a small family-based NGO in 2005, has received charitable status from the Canadian government. This means we can issue tax receipts for donations! From our first project of building a well in Nellie Miller’s home village of Makupo, our programs have grown and expanded to include the Chilanga Health Centre, which serv...es a catchment area of over 15,000 residents. RECOGNITION IN MALAWI After much hard work and many inspections, the Malawi Department of Health has recognized the Health Centre and will be including it in their upcoming budget. This means the Malawian government will cover most of the health centre’s expenses in the future, which is a major step toward achieving the centre’s long-term sustainability.