Dr Khumbo Kalua

Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg

Well this is a good hospital, where I spent a month with my burns. The staff at the Wound Clinic well excellent!!!

Guess what, the late Nelson Mandela was admitted here at the same hospital a few times.

This is why I am much better today, recovering from my burns.

By the way I am still on sick leave till my wounds heal properly.

I am continuing with daily dressing on the donor site, as of today 25^th September 2014.

My wife is a hero, she does all the dressing alone at home.

I am told I have a long way to go to full recovery, but I am optimistic.

God is faithful

, and he will keep his promises.

Want to wish me well, or to pray for me?

Contact me at : director@bicomalawi.org

<a href="mailto:director@bicomalawi.org">Email me! </a>

Alarming burglary increase in Malawi

As a result, I have Lost a Good Friend. Rest in Peace Richard

Just a few weeks ago (September 2014) a good long-time friend Richard Suzgo Chinula was attacked at his house in area 47 in Lilongwe by thieves at around 1.00am while sleeping. He was badly assaulted and suffered head injury with scar fracture. He died a few days later at Kamuzu Central Hospital. I have been very divested as this was the only friend I could count on in Lilongwe. He gave me a lot of advice regarding BICO, and indeed he contributed to the success of BICO. I had known Richard since 1996 , and we have been friend since then.

Richard was an Engineer trained in Malawi and Canada, and at the time of his death he was the owner of First Net ICT systems, a prominent IT company in Lilongwe with branches in Blantyre. At the age of 49, he has left behind 3 children and a wife. What a loss!!!!

The issue of security in Malawi is very frightening. Just a few weeks ago, the Vice Presidents house was also entered by robbers. In 2012, thieves also robbed our house and stole a lot of things.

Police, can you do something about this? Malawi is supposed to be a peaceful country

RIP Richard!!!!!

Contact me at : director@bicomalawi.org

<a href="mailto:director@bicomalawi.org">Email me! </a>

Any solution for Burns scar itching?

Since my burns on 13^th June, my body is not the same.

I have constant itching wherever there is a scar that is up to 32% of my body.

I have to wear pressure garments all the time but they don’t help much (apart from being very hot).I am using E45 and Dermastix for the scarring. I have bandages everywhere. above picture was for my fracture in 2013

Does someone know what I can do to ease this t? How I can be linked up?

I need to be better, for BICO to continue ticking

Contact me at : director@bicomalawi.org

<a href="mailto:director@bicomalawi.org">Email me! </a>

Motivational Speaker/Blogger

With so much happening in my life (BICO, Burns) I feel I could become a good motivational speaker/blogger.

Does someone know how I can be linked up? (I could pay for my own expenses)

My wife here could accompany me

If so

Contact me at : director@bicomalawi.org

<a href="mailto:director@bicomalawi.org">Email me! </a>

Not all is bad after all

Not all is bad after all

Blantyre Institute for Community Ophthalmology (BICO), Malawi

An amazing story for prevention of Blindness Programs

Dr Khumbo Kalua, Public Health Ophthalmologist, Malawi

A fractured Right arm in 2013, and a survivor to a devastating burn covering a large part of the body in 2014!!!! One wound think well this is really bad. Below is a story that may make you believe God has a reason for my survivals.

In 2007, British Council for Prevention of Blindness (BCPB) awarded Dr Khumbo Kalua from Malawi a PhD Fellowship based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, with field work on childhood blindness to be conducted in Malawi. With this funding, Dr Kalua registered a local eye NGO named Blantyre Institute for community Ophthalmology (BICO) in 2008 in Malawi and employed one Research Project Assistant (Ruby). Between 2008 and 2011, Dr Kalua worked very hard to see BICO grow.

7 years later (in 2014), BICO has become a prominent Eye NGO in Malawi, employing 6 graduate full time staff, and leading Research work on Trachoma. Currently BICO has collaborations with several Eye-heath researches and program institutions in Europe, USA, Asia and Africa, and has grants guaranteed until 2018. Some of the organisations collaborating and funding BICO include the Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology, the London school of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the NTD support Centre (USA), International Trachoma Initiative, Sightsavers, Wilde Ganzen (Netherlands), International Eye Foundation, Bernhard Institute for Tropical Medicine (Germany), European Foundation for Neglected Tropical Diseases, and the International Coalition for Trachoma Control(ICTC) .

In 2013, BICO spent thousands of dollars on research and programs alone. BICO has published over 15 articles in peer reviewed journals over the last 4 years, and now Dr Kalua has been confirmed as an associate Professor at the College of Medicine, University of Malawi. Dr Kalua also sits at the WHO Regional (Afro) Committee as a technical advisor on Trachoma, and he is the external Examiner for the Ophthalmology course in Botswana.

And have you heard that BICO is a Trachoma implementing partner in Malawi for the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust Fund, managed by Sightsavers? Well BICO is a member of the International Coalition for Trachoma Control (ICTC).Actually I am in Paris attending the ICTC meeting, discussing about Trachoma in My country as see on the picture.

Who would have imagined that a seed-corn funding from BCPB would lead to such an amazing story within a short period of time?

BICO project successes can be viewed at www.bicomalawi.org

BICO can be contacted at director@bicomalawi.org

Dr Khumbo Kalua

Director

BICO

Malawi.

God has been good to me. He makes me want to serve him more.

Contact me at : director@bicomalawi.org

<a href="mailto:director@bicomalawi.org">Email me! </a>

Tough Times 2014

If I wasn’t a Christian believer, I am not sure where I could have looked for solutions for what happened to me on 13^th June 2014 9when my whole body was burnt).

And 4th January 2013(when I broke my Right arm).

Been a medical doctor for 18 years (an eye specialist for 12 years), but on that fateful day (13rd June) , my career and my friend fell into pieces.

A lot has been said about witch-craft (not uncommon in Africa).In-fact there are claims that the one who did his is known. Yes even doctors believe in witchcraft and seek traditional healers.

But my God is greater than theirs, this is why my wife prayed for my condition, and the heavens opened up.

Never disclosed this (while in Intensive care unit I lost hope, but my wife never did).

Frustrations:

Believe me, I had had no shower/ proper bath for over 30 days while I was bed ridden.

I was also pooing and weeing right there in the bed.

And I was stinking.

I was in excruciating agonising pain all the time.

How then could I have wanted to carry on?

Pethidine/Morphine didn’t work on me.

They wanted a Psychiatrist to asses me .

But my wife was fasting, prayed to her God to make me better. And he just did that.

Today 25^th September, still in Pain, but I am able to blog.

Infact I am in Paris, France- standing infront of Effel Towel;trying to dress my wounds. (and attending a Trachoma meeting)

I have several blisters-wow these are painful.

I could write a novel about the pain.

Maybe I should become a motivational speaker.

But in all situations, praise the Lord.

God has been good to me. He makes me want to serve him more.

Contact me at : director@bicomalawi.org

<a href="mailto:director@bicomalawi.org">Email me! </a>

Injury with 3rd degree burns

Injury with 3rd degree burns -in Intensive Care Unit

Yes this is Dr Khumbo Kalua as a burns patient

Yes in it was on Friday the 13^th June, and of-course at the Lake Malawi –a well-known 4 Start Hotel. A simple buffet turned into disaster.

Medicine and Medical Colleagues failed me, and if it wasn’t for him –it was RIP.

After the injury I was on my way heading 6 feet deep but while in ICU parking my last remains, God returned me on the way saying I was not well prepared, and I needed to complete the work I had started (For as long as heavens are higher than the earth, neither his ways nor his thoughts are unknown to us –Isaiah 55 versus 8-9)..

Instead I found myself in a hospital bed in South Africa, as attached.

How can I be blogging when i have scars all over my body?

How can I be helping eye patients when I am a patient myself?

I suppose it is time to retire, to give chance to some young stars!

Did you know that in 2013 I broke my Right Hand (compound fracture)

God has been good to me. He makes me want to serve him more.

Contact me at : director@bicomalawi.org

<a href="mailto:director@bicomalawi.org">Email me! </a>

Thursday, 25 September 2014