Simkonda, Chief Clinical Officer of St. Martin’s Hospital, and Dr Helen. Simkonda is currently studying in Leeds, U.K.
In December 2009 I departed on a self-planned medical humanitarian journey to visit a remote rural mission hospital on the shores of Lake Malawi. I have returned to St. Martin’s Hospital many times as a member and only doctor of the community.
People in Malawi live on less than $1 per day. One out of five children under the age of 5 die of malaria, TB and/or AIDS. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to have partnered with Project C.U.R.E. in sending a container of medical supplies and equipment valued at nearly $500,000 to St. Martin’s Hospital.
The contents have truly made an impact on the lives of many Malawians, and will continue to do so. I thank everyone who has supported me in my endeavor to improve healthcare in Malawi.
My goal is to support the Malawian people in caring for themselves. With clean water available, they must know not to drink from the lake. With malaria nets available, they must not use them as fishing nets. The available birth control and protection from HIV/AIDS and other sexual transmittable diseases can only work if the youth are well-informed. Women, who are the backbones of communities, must be given opportunities to build small businesses. My goal for improved health care is intertwined with improvements in nutrition, literacy, sanitation, as well as a government that promotes human rights and economic stability.
Albino children at the Mwereni Integrated School for the Blind in Moshi, Tanzania
My work in Sub-Saharan Africa continues. In July 2013, I lead a medical team with K2 Adventures Foundation to Moshi, Tanzania to improve healthcare at the Mwerini Integrated School and Orphanage for the Blind. Many of the children are Albino and have Xeroderma Pigmentosa. Not only are they shunned by society, at the expense of their lives, but have a short life span due to skin aging and cancers.
DrHelenTZ 
As a patient of Dr. Tropp-Zell and I think it’s so wonderful that you are doing something to improve the plight of others living so far below the poverty line. There is so much work to be done and the lives of these people can improve greatly with education.
Hello Dr Helen,
I am a medical student from Australia going to St Martins Hospital in early December (just over 2 weeks). Will you still be at the hospital? I came across your blog when searching for more info about the hospital.
Regards,
Sally
Hello Dr HelenTZ
I am a medical student going to St Martins Hospital for elective in a little over two weeks. I came across your blog and was wondering if you will be at the hospital still in December?
Kind regards,
Sally Peacock
Dearest Helen, This is so fabulous. Filled with good information and alot of loving kindness. Namaste, Ann
Dearest Dr Trop Zell… I have been a patient of yours for the past 15 years and have always been proud to call you my doctor. I am also so very proud of your wonderful humanitarian work in Africa…what a beautiful person you are!!!
Kind Regards,
Sue Tyson
I am a friend of Nina Slonaker, a new patient of yours. I was in Blantyre at the CURE Hospital for Children last October, working with Dr. Dave Burgess. Dave is an orthopedic surgeon and medical missionary, who gave up his practice in Virginia two years ago to move to Blantyre permanently. What a blessing you, and those like you, are to the children of Malawi who mean so much to me. I will follow you on your website. Jan Hoaglin, RN