Friday, June 28, was an exciting day at the Namwianga Hospital. The very first C-section was performed in Namwianga’s new surgery theater. The anesthesia team from the Zambian Ministry of Health came on Wednesday, June 26, to bring some new equipment for anesthesia. By Thursday the team was confident that the equipment was working well, so they visited nearby Kalomo Hospital and requested that instead of referring C-section patients to Choma (one hour away) or Livingstone (90 minutes away), Kalomo should refer patients to the Namwianga Hospital.

On Friday morning the first patient arrived. Dr. Stephen Chanda and Medical Licentiate David Kalimanshila performed the C-section surgery, along with the Ministry of Health anesthetist, Mr. Chelu. The 9-pound baby was delivered successfully, and both mother and baby are doing fine. Chelu said the woman probably would have died if she had been transported the longer distance to Choma or Livingstone.

The Ministry of Health team offered positive reports about the facility and the staff at Namwianga Hospital. The Ministry is providing additional equipment and supplies for the facility and has also assigned additional midwives to serve at Namwianga.

Thank you to the many donors who saw the need for compassionate, Christian medical care and gave generously to make the Namwianga Hospital a reality!

Update: A second C-section was performed on Monday, July 8. The mother and her 5-pound baby girl are doing fine!

Zambia Mission Fund oversees the work of Namwianga Mission, a 6,000-acre center for education, evangelism, and humanitarian aid in the Southern Province of Zambia.  Namwianga is home to George Benson Christian College of Education, Namwianga Christian Secondary School, Namwianga Zonal Health Center, Namwianga Christian Radio, Zambia Medical Mission, and The Haven In-Home Orphan Care. Zambia Mission and Namwianga are affiliated with the Churches of Christ.