About Ekwendeni Mission Hospital
Serving the communities of northern Malawi since 1889
A Century of Service
Ekwendeni Mission Hospital has served the communities of Mzimba District and beyond for more than 135 years. From pioneering medical work in the late 1880s to the launch of a landmark strategic plan in 2024, the hospital's story is one of sustained commitment to Christ-centred, compassionate care.
Bandawe Clinic Founded
Dr Robert Laws establishes Bandawe Clinic in Nkhata Bay — one of the earliest mission medical facilities in the region, and today one of three satellite facilities under Ekwendeni Hospital management.
Medical Services Begin at Ekwendeni
Dr Walter A. Elmslie of the Free Church of Scotland begins medical services at the mission station that would become Ekwendeni. The hospital celebrated its centenary in 1989.
Maternity Unit Opens at Enukweni
A maternity unit is established at Enukweni, 25 km north of the main hospital, with the sole aim of reducing maternal morbidity and mortality rates in the surrounding communities.
Handover to CCAP Livingstonia Synod
The Church of Scotland hands the running of the institution over to the National Church — the Livingstonia CCAP Synod — embedding the hospital within the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian.
New Hospital Complex Opens
The most recent main hospital complex is opened, establishing the facilities that continue to serve patients today. The complex has since been enlarged to its current 250-bed capacity.
Kavuzi Health Centre Opens
Kavuzi Health Centre in Nkhata Bay opens in August — a joint CHAM and Ministry of Health initiative — extending care to 12,052 people across five rural villages.
Enukweni OPD Established
Community demand leads the hospital to open an Outpatient Department at Enukweni in May 2017, complementing the existing maternity unit and making comprehensive care accessible to 15,754 residents.
Strategic Plan Launched
The 2024–2029 Strategic Plan is launched with a landmark goal: to achieve COHSASA (Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa) accreditation by 30 September 2029 — a commitment to world-class quality and patient safety.
Our Mission
Our mission shapes every decision at Ekwendeni — from how we staff the wards, to how we run community outreach programmes, to how we treat patients regardless of their ability to pay. Grounded in the healing ministry of Christ, we aim to offer care that is both clinically sound and deeply human.
Our Vision
Guided by this vision, the hospital is pursuing COHSASA accreditation by 2029 — a rigorous, internationally recognised standard for health service quality. This goal reflects our belief that patients in rural Malawi deserve the same standards of care found anywhere in the world.
Key Statistics
Location
Address
Att: The Hospital DirectorEkwendeni Mission Hospital
P.O. Box 19
Ekwendeni
Mzimba District
Northern Region, Malawi
Getting Here
Ekwendeni is located 22 km from Mzuzu on the M1 tarmac road, in the north-eastern part of Mzimba District. From Mzuzu, travel south on the M1; the hospital is clearly signposted in Ekwendeni town. The main entrance is on the main road through the town centre.
Contact
Tel: +265 999 397 034 /
+265 888 181 541
Email: ndaghamushani@gmail.com
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Our Health Centres
In addition to the main hospital in Ekwendeni, we operate three satellite health centres that extend care to remote communities across Mzimba and Nkhata Bay districts.
Enukweni Health Centre
Established in 1934 as a maternity unit, Enukweni gained a full Outpatient Department in May 2017. The catchment covers 15,754 people across 136 villages, served by a dedicated team of 20 staff.
Kavuzi Health Centre
Opened in August 2016 as a joint CHAM and Ministry of Health initiative, Kavuzi serves 12,052 people across 5 villages in Nkhata Bay District — fulfilling the Synod's mission of reaching underserved communities.
Bandawe Clinic
Founded by Dr Robert Laws in 1881, Bandawe is one of the oldest mission health facilities in Malawi. It serves over 19,042 people across 10 villages in more than 3,000 households.
Partners & Affiliations
Church Affiliation
Ekwendeni Mission Hospital operates under the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, under its health department. We are also a member of CHAM (Christian Health Association of Malawi) — a non-profit, non-governmental umbrella organisation of Christian-owned health facilities, established in 1966 to promote the healing ministry of Jesus Christ across Malawi.
Partner Organisations
We are grateful for the sustained support of our international and local partners:
- Church of Scotland
- Presbyterian Church of Canada
- Presbyterian Church of USA
- Presbyterian Church of Ireland
- Medical Benevolent Foundation (MBF)
- Presbyterian World Service & Development
- Cypressa – Wilde Gease
- Steven Lewis Foundation
- People Against Poverty
- Church of Scotland – Geneva
- Jane & Hans
- Rev Dr David & Mrs Maureen Irwin
- MACRO
- Light to Care