Embangweni Hospital is run by the Synod of Livingstonia, whose policy is to give maternity leave only to married women. Unmarried women are either suspended without pay or dismissed. These women suffer the stigma of their pregnancy and lose their ability to support themselves and their child. Please pray for those responsible for making the policies that affect single moms and their babies.

Adoption is not an option in this land of many orphans. Since AIDS overwhelmed this society, most households seem to be caring for “extra” children. The Crisis Nursery is presently searching for homes for more than 40 abandoned children, and there are not yet laws to permit overseas adoption.

At Embangweni Hospital and its health centers, we serve all moms and babies in the area, but our level of services continues to drop as we lose trained healthcare personnel. Earlier this week, a mom and baby were brought in after a home delivery. Both died before being assessed. In the last three weeks we have had three maternal deaths, which is more than we had in the whole year 2000. The clinical department has only 10 of the 41 skilled positions filled. The nursing department, which works under a similar strain, is losing four nurse-midwives this month. The government-set salaries are too low to compensate for the workload, which increases with each departure. I have said, “It’s too much. I think I have to go,” but then corrected with a chuckle that the time to leave is not when I have too much work, but when I have too little. Please pray that the makers of health policy take seriously the staffing needed to care for the mainly rural and impoverished populace of Malawi.

Last month, the maternity ward was incredibly strained. After a rash of thefts, the portable ultrasound was stolen. When it was reported to the police, all on duty were taken to Mzimba, and the three working in the ward at the time were jailed. A ward maid had gotten involved in a network that sold supplies over the Zambian border. When the ultrasound machine was found in her home, she said her nursing supervisor was involved, so he too was kept in jail until he could make bail. He was finally acquitted today. When he was acquitted, his accuser pointed the finger at other staff. The horror of being in a room with 70 prisoners without room to lie down, with one non-flushing toilet, little food, and no bedding provided overwhelmed him; yet he was protected by three long-term Embangweni prisoners who slept around him. The power of prayer in vigils and morning and evening prayers has been tremendous. The accused read Luke 6:27 and put into practice “Love your enemies…pray for those who treat you badly.” He prayed for her physical and spiritual welfare and encouraged us not to forget her need for our prayers. Just as the purple jacaranda blossoms and orange flamboyant blooms arrive during the desolate, dry season, when the earth seems to be blandly brown, God often sends us people who inspire us in times that try our souls.