In month of May 2023, Dr. Patricia Miller- Spencer and her husband, Hon. Noel Spencer—a notable Kingston College Old Boy, and Past President of KCOBAUSA—embarked on a transformative journey to Blantyre, Malawi as part of an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical mission team. This mission, which brought much-needed surgical care to one of the world’s most underserved regions, ignited a movement to address the critical shortage of oral surgeons in the country.

Witnessing an Urgent Need

Malawi, a nation of over 21 million residents, has only one Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon-Dr. James Mchenga, and nineteen dentists. During their time in the country, the Spencers joined a team of five oral and maxillofacial surgeons, led by one of Dr. Miller’s former residents (Dr. Tanya Nkungula- Malawian) who performed twenty-four life-changing surgeries over ten days, from a waiting list of 260 patients. The team also consisted of two operating room nurses, a lab technician, and a team from a not-for-profit group.

Patients waited over three months on the lawns of the hospital, day and night awaiting the arrival of the unit from the United States. These people slept, ate, used water buckets to bathe themselves, shielded by bed linen for privacy. A religious, proud group of citizens.

The demand for oral healthcare is overwhelming, leaving the Spencers deeply moved by the dire need for skilled professionals in this field.

A Scholarship for Hope

Amid their mission, the Spencers learned of a dental student on the verge of dropping out of Malawi's newly established oral surgery program at the country’s main university due to financial difficulties. Determined to make a difference, the Spencers decided to sponsor the student, enabling him to continue his education.

https://themaldentproject.com/2019/09/10/meeting-malawis-first-dental-students-the-bds-programme-is-launched/

Their act of kindness underscored the stark realities of education costs in Malawi: the expense of a single cup of Starbucks coffee in the United States could sustain a university student for two days.

Noel recounts the consecutive sequence of events leading towards granting the scholarship to Mr. Patrick Moses. The group arrived on Sunday afternoon May 28^th, 2023, in Blantyre, Malawi after a 36-hour trip which started in Washington, DC.

A group of students from the dental program greeted us at the airport that afternoon. During dinner, Patrick sat close to Patrica and me.

During the next ten days while the surgical team were at the hospital, the Malawian Ambassador to the USA and her husband, became the hosts to the four non-surgical team members. Our small group toured parts of Malawi conducting business seminars to groups of widows who were looking for suggestions to sustain their enterprises.

Peter stayed close to us during the next few days, then he told me of his plight. I first was certainly cautious of the advances. And thus, I asked him to prepare a document listing the curriculum of the school, his courses, and his financial needs. Within two hours of the request, Patrick returned with the document delving into everything I requested. Going as far to explain the plight of his parents who are desperately poor.

My wife and I met with Dr. Mchenga to confirm his plight. He acknowledged that Patrick was about to be expelled for lack of funds to pay his tuition. Once confirmed, we paid the tuition which included food, welfare, and books. A few months later, we added a laptop to the request.

Catalyzing Change-Ambassador proudly showcases the Spencers in Washington, DC and whenever a speech was made on Malawian health needs.

In 2024, Dr. Miller returned to Malawi for a second mission, further cementing her commitment to the cause. The impact of the Spencer’s donation reverberated across the country, drawing the attention of the Ambassador Esme Chombo- Malawian Ambassador to the United States, who publicly acknowledged their contribution. News of their generosity inspired others to act.

Mr. Harold Jiya, President of the National Bank of Malawi followed suit, providing scholarships for the first batch of dental students. Organizations such as Rotary International have since joined the effort, further expanding support for aspiring first call of oral health professionals in Malawi. The Minister of Health in Malawi, Hon Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda praised the group for taking on this initiative at their own expense and stated that the mission is a call to action to improve the dental health in Malawi. Additional operatories have been added to The Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, specifically for Oral and Maxillofacial surgeries.

Building a Brighter Future

The Spencer’s act of compassion has sparked a wave of generosity and hope in Malawi. By supporting dental education, they are addressing a critical healthcare gap and empowering the next generation of oral surgeons.