Transforming Cardiac Care in Malawi: MTIMA’s 2025 Year in Review

The year 2025 marked a transformative chapter for MTIMA and the landscape of cardiac health in Malawi. Through a series of strategic mission trips, intensive clinical training, and a commitment to local research, MTIMA has moved beyond temporary aid toward a sustainable, Malawian-led model of cardiovascular excellence.

Dr. David McCarty discussing diagnostic results and surgical intervention.

Clinical Excellence and Direct Patient Impact

The core of MTIMA’s mission remains the immediate delivery of high-quality care to those who need it most. In 2025, our impact was felt across the country:

Diagnostic Reach: MTIMA teams and their local counterparts performed a staggering number of echocardiograms. The three primary mission trips accounted for 250 scans, while the local team, empowered by ongoing training, performed an additional 500 scans independently.
Surgical Interventions: Our diagnostic work served as a critical pipeline for definitive treatment. A significant number of patients identified through our screenings underwent successful cardiac surgery or pacemaker implantation in 2025.
Comprehensive Ward Management: MTIMA didn't just consult; our team members provided direct clinical care for every single patient on the cardiac in-patient ward and all cardiac outpatients at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) throughout the year.
Geographic Expansion: While QECH is our primary hub, MTIMA’s influence extended to Chiradzulu and Thyolo District Hospitals, with training and outreach reaching practitioners from six additional districts, including Zomba and Lilongwe.

Christine Portwood and Dr. Warner Mampuya are teaching trainees.

Empowering the Next Generation of Malawian Leaders

The true measure of MTIMA's success is the growth of the local medical community. In 2025, we worked alongside a brilliant cohort of "Malawian Learners" who are now becoming leaders in their own right:

Physician Specialists: We mentored Medical Registrars like Dr. Wickson Kaliyapa and Dr. Maclean Ndovie, alongside Senior Medical Officers Dr. Mwayi Donda and Dr. Wongani Mhango.
The Clinical Team: Training extended to Clinical Associates and Officers, including Mr. Precious Chipatala, Mr. Fortune Chipatala, Ms. Tasugana Chiwala, Mr. Joseph Moyo, and Mr. Levishon Offman.
Diagnostic Experts: We invested in the future of radiography with Mr. Zadock Vizyalona and radiography student Ms. Deborah Kambalame.

Kim Weir teaching bedside Echocardiography.

Innovation in Clinical Services

Sustainability requires building the infrastructure for specialized care. In 2025, several new services were pioneered at QECH:

Pediatric-to-Adult Transition: Dr. Donda established two new clinics specifically designed to help pediatric patients with congenital and rheumatic heart disease transition safely into adult cardiac care.
Advanced Diagnostics: Dr. Kaliyapa led the establishment of the first exercise stress ECG service at QECH, providing a vital new tool for managing coronary health.
Post-Operative Support: A dedicated anticoagulation and echocardiography follow-up clinic was launched to ensure long-term health for patients with prosthetic heart valves.

Kim, Maala and David are giving gifts to school students.

Advancing Science: Research and Mentorship

MTIMA is proud to foster a culture of inquiry. In late 2025, MTIMA sponsored several research projects that were presented at the national Research Dissemination Conference:

Heart Failure Management: Research led by Mr. Moyo, Mr. Offman, Dr. Kaliyapa, and Mr. P. Chipatala (in collaboration with undergraduate pharmacy students) examined the management of both acute and outpatient congestive heart failure.
Ongoing Masters Projects: Our partners are pursuing advanced degrees with research focused on atrial fibrillation (Dr. Ndovie), valvular heart disease (Mr. Vizyalona), and heart failure funding (Dr. Kaliyapa).

Samyra Alston scanning pediatric patient.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we look toward the new year, we carry the momentum of 2025 with us. With more surgeries already scheduled and a growing team of highly skilled Malawian clinicians, the future of cardiac care in Malawi is brighter than ever.

Investing in the Infinite: A Call to Partnership

In the quiet economy of global health, the most valuable currency is not the equipment we bring, but the autonomy we leave behind. In 2025, MTIMA proved that a sustainable pulse is possible: while our missions facilitated 250 scans , it was the Malawian team’s independent execution of 500 subsequent echocardiograms that truly defined our year.

We are no longer merely visiting a clinic; we are witnessing the birth of a system. To ensure this momentum carries into 2026, we invite you to move beyond the role of a donor and become an architect of this clinical endurance.

Malawian trainees are reviewing Echocardiography case independently.

Our 2026 Strategic Horizons

The Digital Architecture: Our primary objective for the coming year is the establishment of a robust IT infrastructure. This network will serve as a borderless classroom, allowing Malawian healthcare practitioners to master echocardiography through a scalable, digital framework that doesn't wait for a plane to land to begin.
The Academic Endowment: We are seeking specific sponsorship for advanced research projects, such as Dr. Kaliyapa’s evaluation of heart failure management, to ensure the brightest medical minds in Malawi have the resources to define their own standards of care.
The Surgical Pipeline: Your support continues to facilitate the critical work of screening and post-operative care for patients requiring life-saving cardiac surgery and pacemaker implantations.

Dr. Warner Mampuya teaching during lunch and learn.

A Note on Efficiency

We maintain a lean, purpose-driven operation where every contribution is treated with the same meticulous care as a clinical diagnosis. By investing in MTIMA, you are ensuring that resources go directly to clinical supplies, local training, and the digital tools that make "Canadian resilience" a permanent fixture in Malawian wards.

As we look toward the horizon, we remain anchored by the belief that what we build in obscurity is what the next generation trusts for eternity. We have the passion and a proven track record of equity; we now invite you to provide the network that scales it.

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