The next step in building a complete healthcare system is the most critical: surgical access. In many cases, the difference between life and death in this region comes down to whether surgery is available—particularly for emergency cesarean sections, hemorrhage, and treatable conditions that require intervention. Breaking ground in 2023 and expected to fully open in Spring 2026, the Pothawira Surgical Center is designed to meet that need. Once operational, the facility will include:

• Four operating rooms, including one equipped for laparoscopic surgery

• A hematology and pathology lab to support diagnosis and treatment

• A blood bank and transfusion capability, essential in a region where hemorrhage and severe anemia are leading causes of death

• Equipment specifically designed to function during power outages and low-resource conditions

In early 2026, Solventas Foundation contributed $25,000 to help bring this center to completion. These funds are being directed toward the final construction requirements needed for Malawi Ministry of Health approval—supporting critical items such as:

• Hematology lab completion

• Air conditioning installation for clinical environments

• Sterile processing infrastructure and workflow separation

• Pathology and radiology workspace buildout

• Pre-op and post-op patient accommodations

• Final infrastructure elements including incineration and facility logistics

This contribution is designed to stretch as far as possible—helping complete as many of these essential items as needed to open the facility. Because the reality is:

• Hemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal death

• Severe anemia—often driven by malaria—is a leading cause of death in children

Without surgical access, these conditions are often fatal. With it, they are treatable. This center represents the final piece of a fully integrated system—one that turns access into survival, and survival into long-term stability for an entire community