AMECA

Rowena Clark / Adventure Medic Editor

AMECA (Alex’s Medical and Educational Clinic in Africa) is an organisation founded by Ruthie Markus, mum of Alex, the charity’s namesake. He had always aspired to practice medicine in rural Africa in an attempt to increase the availability of sound healthcare there. Following his death in 2006, Ruthie took up this challenge. I spoke with her to find out a little more about what they do, the difficulties they encounter, how they can help you, and how you can get involved. Ruthie is driven, full of endless anecdotes and a delight to chat with.

Malawi

AMECA is based in Malawi, a choice driven by its status as one of the world’s poorest countries: more than 65% of the population live below the poverty line, and life expectancy remains below 50 years. There are roughly 2 physicians and 59 nurses per 100 000 people.

AMECA has focussed on setting up a sustainable healthcare and training wing in a rural hospital, where their private surgical initiative funds free treatment for children requiring orthopaedic surgery. In addition, they have recently had the support from Malawi’s President to build a primary healthcare clinic in the lower Shire region of Southern Malawi. These projects will be no mean feat: there is little in the way of material or skilled work in the region. AMECA will have to bring much of the infrastructure in, pool local resources and employment, and populate the clinic with healthcare workers volunteering to go over from the UK: the aim being to eventually train local staff to sustain the centre and provide medical care for the nearby population. Ruthie is a recurring presence in Malawi to oversee these projects and ensure that the ethos and structure she has pushed for persists. She is heading back there for 4-5 weeks this month, not for the first time this year.

Medical Database & Electives

Motivated by an incessant shortage of medical and nursing staff in many African countries, AMECA keeps an up-to-date medical database of clinics and hospitals in need. Medical and surgical staff can refer to this list when looking to share their skills in Africa. In doing so, you can teach within your area of expertise and mentor local staff, acting to create something a little more sustainable than a solely ‘drop-in’ charitable service.

The database is also a valuable resource for medical, nursing and physiotherapy students on the lookout for elective options within the African continent. In contrast to commercial set-ups, it is without cost. Limited bursaries for electives are also available: contact AMECA directly to enquire.

Get Involved

You can donate to AMECA here or, if you’d prefer a more adventurous fund-raising venture, such as hauling yourself up Kilimanjaro, take a peek at the Really Wild Challenges website; they will help you arrange a trip for AMECA.

Lastly, AMECA has teamed up with another adventure travel company, Secret Compass, who are plotting a two week Malawi Adventure Fundraising Challenge in October 2014. If you’d like to boost resources for community projects and AMECA by trekking in the Mount Mulanje region, renovating a local school, and enjoying the views by Lake Malawi, contact AMECA or Secret Compass to enquire: there are only 20 places going, so get in touch ASAP.