can you say, "mpongwe?"

Today, the Tiny People Matter group had the privilege of visiting Mpongwe Mission Hospital, a cornerstone of care for the Mpongwe District in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province. 
This was a longer journey today to the remote, rural district in the Copperbelt, but we were strongly encouraged on Monday by the Public Health Director and many others to set aside this time and make the journey - to see the needs what opportunities and impact a team like ours may provide.
 
Before we set out on the journey this morning, we were surprised by a visit from the district Director of Nursing for Maternal Child Health. You may recognize her from pictures from our political visits on Monday. To our amazement and joy, she was wearing a Tiny People Matter T-shirt today!  We were so thankful that she took time from her busy schedule to see us off and encourage us again!

Since its humble beginnings in the 1940s, the Mpongwe mission hospital has grown through the resilience and commitment of mission workers, local staff, and international partnerships, standing as a symbol of hope and fortitude for the community it serves.  For perspective, we were told there are approximately 5000 live births in the district. Nearly 4000 of those occur at the Mission Hospital – it is a very, very busy place!

Walking through the hospital’s departments, we witnessed moments that opened our eyes to both the challenges and triumphs of healthcare in this rural setting. We encountered a remarkable resilience in the staff, who manage to care for each patient with unwavering commitment, despite limited resources and grossly inadequate staffing.  We were introduced to an OB/GYN from Sweden who was on her last day of a six week visit to provide additional help and expertise. She came with her midwife who stayed for four weeks.  We learned that some of the local midwives are not paid, they volunteer their time.  Their fortitude was evident in every interaction and every step taken to ensure that no patient is left behind.

One of the most impactful stops on our tour was a space that the hospital is transforming into a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This NICU will offer a new level of care to the community’s smallest and most vulnerable patients, reducing the need for risky transfers of fragile newborns to facilities in distant areas. Experiencing the bumpy roads ourselves today, we could fully appreciate the importance of this initiative. This addition will provide life-saving care locally, sparing families the difficult journey and enabling infants to receive critical treatment right in their community.

The staff’s perseverance and stamina resonated deeply with our team. We saw how they tackle some of the toughest health issues in the region.  We again left some medical supplies to support them as able, but we know that it is not enough.  we made list of things that we need to bring next year.

Many patients also face significant obstacles even reaching the hospital, including the need for transportation on a pontoon boat.  Housing for women at the hospital who manage to make the journey is also a significant challenge - they desperately desire to be providing safe and sanitary living conditions while women wait to have their babies, but significant barriers remain and need to be overcome.

​Resourcefulness is at the heart of Mpongwe Mission Hospital. In every department, from outpatient care and the maternity ward to the children’s ward, the staff stretch resources to meet growing demands, often having to innovate to provide the best possible care with what little they have. Their commitment to making a difference, despite these limitations, reshapes our perspective on what it truly means to serve.

It was not a smooth journey, as we faced “bumpy” roads—literal and figurative—that reminded us of the hurdles both staff and patients endure daily. But these challenges only emphasized the need for sustained support and partnership to ensure that the hospital can continue its vital work.

Our day at Mpongwe Mission Hospital left us with a renewed determination to support communities like Mpongwe. Today was more than a visit; it was a call to action, a reminder that hope, fortitude, perseverance, and resourcefulness can create profound change in the world.