An interdisciplinary medical mission to Malawi, Africa

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

4-10-2026

Presentation Format

In person

Department

Physical Therapy

Abstract

A 14-day service trip to northern Malawi included two UD Department of Physical Therapy faculty, a DPT student, and a clinical pharmacist. This trip built on a 2025 needs-assessment visit after the Bishop of the Karonga Diocese requested support to strengthen local health care across Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) and government facilities. The visit identified a high prevalence of stroke, diabetes (DM), hypertension (HTN), low back pain (LBP), and cerebral palsy (CP); it also identified a key system barrier: Statins were available but underutilized due to lack of cholesterol testing reagents.

The team partnered with local clinicians for daily medical camps at Karonga and Chitipa District Hospitals. PT treated 6–12 patients/day (average 50 minutes/patient), addressing adult LBP, chronic orthopedic conditions, stroke, and, among the pediatric population, CP and developmental delay. Educational presentations were delivered at both hospitals. Ongoing needs include interdisciplinary education, particularly for inpatient wards. Limited glucose testing was available within the country this year.

Cardiometabolic screening was integrated within the NCD clinic using a Cholestech device. Blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, total/HDL ratio, and vital signs were recorded. Of 108 patients (Karonga n=98; Chitipa n=10), 48 (44.4%) would benefit from statin therapy (Karonga 45.8%; Chitipa 30%). Seven met criteria for HTN and seven for DM; treatment initiation occurred in 14.5% screened. Mean HDL (n=96) was 37.59 mg/dL, and 50% with DM had emergent glucose >500 mg/dL. This medical mission demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary care guiding actionable treatment, educating local teams, and informing future healthcare expansion in northern Malawi.

Keywords

Interdisciplinary, medical, mission, service, physical therapy, pharmacy, international healthcare

Disciplines

Cardiovascular Diseases | Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities | Education | International Public Health | Interprofessional Education | Maternal and Child Health | Pharmacy Administration, Policy and Regulation | Physical Therapy | Physiotherapy

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