- S
- F
I am a founding member of the Charity Road to Relief in Malawi and have over twenty years experience working in global public health. Malawi has been facing a crisis in dialysis care for many years which came to a head at the end of 2025 when all the machines in one of only 2 government hospitals providing dialysis in Malawi (Kamuzu Central Hospital) were out of action, leaving patients scrambling for life saving care.
In Malawi’s 22 million population, over 2million people live with chronic kidney disease.
An estimated 100,000 Malawians need dialysis, yet the whole country’s public sector has only 17 dialysis machines across two hospitals.
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) currently operates a 5 bed dialysis unit treating fewer than 20 patients a month. Private dialysis costs about MK 700,000 per week — unaffordable for most Malawians. Many patients with advanced kidney disease receive no dialysis and die prematurely.
Help us build a new 20 bed Dialysis Unit at QECH to expand from 5 to 20 beds to allow QECH to treat roughly 100 patients a month — more than tripling lifesaving capacity immediately. QECH has the committed medical and nursing staff to run a 20 bed unit; the limiting factor is dedicatedspace and infrastructure.
Chronic Kidney Disease is one of the fastest growing health threats globally and is projected to be aleading cause of death by 2040.
The International Paediatric Nephrology Association has pledged 6 dialysis machines once appropriate space is available. Other donors are ready to follow, but the unit must be built first.
How funds will be used
• Construct and equip the dialysis ward: plumbing, electrical upgrades, patient bays, infection controlmeasures, furniture.
• Prepare space to receive donated dialysis machines and support supplies.
• Initial consumables and setup costs to get the unit operational.
Progress so far
• We have secured a donation for 80% of the total project cost of £60,000 and need to raise further £10,000 to complete the it.
Donate what you can — every contribution brings the unit closer to opening.
Thank you Your support will transform kidney care in Malawi and offer hope and survival to hundreds of families. Please donate and share — together we can build a lifesaving Dialysis Unit at QECH.