In the Beginning

Africa Burn Relief Program founder, Jennifer Wall-Dean, first travelled to Africa in 2006.  After spending two months volunteering in the village hospital in Nkhoma, Malawi, Jennifer returned home to Phoenix, Arizona dedicated to implementing a sustainable burn care program in Nkhoma.  The Africa Burn Relief program was born.

2007

Missions

ABRP’s first team travelled to Nkhoma in 2007.  The team’s focus was on identifying and implementing training needs in nursing, anaesthesia, and surgical operating staff.  ABRP also provided training on the use of modern burn instruments and medical tools to improve surgical outcomes.  In addition, wound care protocols were developed to help the local providers initiate proper care for burn patients throughout their hospitalizations.  Infections and hospital length of stays decreased. 

The team also began collaborating with a local nursing school to educate students on proper burn care in preparation for their clinical years.  Before the team’s departure, ABRP established rudimentary telemedicine between Nkhoma and U.S.-based burn specialists so ABRP and the Malawian medical teams could continue their collaboration after the team returned to the United States. 

Team Members:

1. Kelly Kaufman, CCRN, CRNA
   Barbara Davis, RN
   Doug Whitby, RN
   Jennifer Wall, PA-C

2008

Team Members:

1. Kelly Kaufman, CCRN, CRNA
   Katie Trout, RN
   Jennifer Wall, PA-C

The team continued ABRP’s efforts to provide targeted education to the local health care providers.  In 2008, the Malawian providers began demonstrating autonomy in wound recognition, dressing care, post-operative care and simple skin grafting.  The team also continued to provide educational classes and lectures at the local nursing school.  Analysis of data regarding burn admissions helped the team begin implementing much needed prevention strategies. 

2009

Team Members:

1. Dr. William Dougherty, MD
   

2. Amber Tate, RN, CCRN
   

3. Jennifer Wall, PA-C, C.O.

With the addition of Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Bill Dougherty the team began focusing on the reconstruction needs of burn victims who never received proper care for their injuries.  The operation schedule focused on children and burn scars that limit mobility and daily functioning.  The Malawian providers demonstrated efficacy in providing quality wound and operative care.  ABRP also began a broader collaboration with other non-profit agencies and non-governmental organizations throughout the world.

2010

Team Members:

1. In-Country Program Director: 
       Jennifer Wall, PA-C, CO
   ReSurge International
   Tracy Gould, PA-S
   Samuel Thompson, Prevention Leader
   

With an In-Country Program Director, ABRP is expanding into the capital city of Lilongwe, Malawi.  Here, skills training and wound protocols will be emphasized so local providers can become proficient in burn treatment.

Education and prevention programming continue to be a critical focus for ABRP.  Our volunteers will work alongside Malawian teachers to integrate burn prevention teaching in nursery and primary schools with specialized prevention books translated into the local language, Chichewa.

Analysis of additional data from burn admissions revealed that 16% of burn injuries in Nkhoma were caused when untreated epileptics suffered seizures and fell into open fires.  Thus, ABRP is also dedicating resources to providing anti-seizure medication for epileptics who cannot afford or obtain medications to control their seizures. 

From 2010-2011 Jenn Wall, PA-C, Clinical Officer, remained in-country full time to develop databases, initiate organized prevention programming for school-aged children and epileptics, as well as, oversee the newly constructed burn ward.

2006

Patient Stories

2012

Team Members:

   Dr. Kevin Foster and family; Arizona Burn Center

   Seth Campbell, PA-S; DeSales University PA Program

   Jennifer Wall, PA-C; Brigham and Women’s Hospital

In 2012, ABR team members joined up with Dr. Kevin Foster, Director of The Arizona Burn Center.  This was the first year ABR team members were able to utilize the state of the art new burn ward facilities, stock an entire storage closet full of donated wound dressings and have access to clean running water during wound care.  The team focused on training a new clinical officer on burn operative techniques.

ABR diligently works with physician assistant programs to incorporate interested PA students.  Seth was instrumental in fundraising at his program to assist with program costs.  In Malawi, student Campbell participated in the capacity of observing surgeries, collecting data, and case finding patients in the rural village with Malawi health surveillance officers.

& Beyond

2014

Team Members:

  Dr. Simon Talbot; Brigham and Women’s Hospital

  Carly Leahey, PA-C; Arizona Burn Center

  Allyson Rimmer; Univ of AZ, Political Science Student

  Jennifer Wall, PA-C

With the expertise of Dr. Talbot, a skilled hand and reconstruction surgeon, several children have gone on to benefit from contracture releases for severe burn scars. With the aid of surgical clinical officers Dr. Talbot was able to weigh in for surgical opinions for many difficult cases.

New member, Carly Leahey, PA-C is incorporating her skills to help train burn nurses and counterpart clinical officers.  ABR is seeking to incorporate experienced burn trained physician assistants to serve as team leaders in future years.  Carly and future ABR PA’s will be instrumental in continuing the legacy of training our counterpart professionals in Malawi.