MSU physician Terrie Taylor says the work she does trying to solve the mystery of malaria may now be a bit easier with the donation of an MRI unit to the hospital she works at in Malawi.
Taylor, University Distinguished Professor of internal medicine, spends the rainy season – January through June – working at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi’s largest city, treating malaria patients and conducting research on a disease that kills as many as 3 million children in sub-Saharan Africa every year.
Through the efforts of James Potchen, University Distinguished Professor of radiology and chairperson of the department, the General Electric Corp. donated an MRI unit to the hospital. And though it’s valued at more than $1 million, Taylor said the MRI unit will prove priceless in what it can bring to her work.
“This will help in so many ways,” she said. “We will use it for the research we do, we’ll be able to use it for everyday patients that come through the hospital and it will help to attract and retain more doctors to Malawi.”
Currently, there is only one radiologist who serves the entire nation of Malawi. Another benefit of the new MRI unit is that it will allow that radiologist – Sam Kampondeni – to send images to MSU where radiologists will be able to assess and evaluate them.
“With this new MRI unit we will be able to serve as many as 18 patients per day,” he said. The MRI unit will be the first in the country of Malawi. It also will serve the neighboring nations of Mozambique and Zambia, neither of which has an MRI.
In addition to the GE contribution, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which is where Taylor, an osteopathic physician, is housed, is donating more than $400,000 to the project. These funds will be used for construction of the building which will house the MRI machine.
An MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a procedure in which radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer are used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. Among other things, these images can show the difference between normal and diseased tissue.
This is very important in the research that Taylor does. To better understand how malaria can kill, she and her team are doing an autopsy study of children, hoping to identify how cerebral malaria affects the brain.
With the use of the MRI, they will be able to look at much of the brain activity while the patient is still alive.
“What this will do,” Taylor said, “is allow us to follow the process as it happens in the brain. It’s a huge advantage.”
So far, one of the most significant findings from Taylor’s study is that about one quarter of the children autopsied actually died of completely unrelated infections or diseases.
“This calls into question a lot of the work that’s been done on severe malaria to date,” she said. “The studies might have included patients who were not suffering from malaria at all, because the researchers were using case definitions that lacked precision.”
Taylor’s autopsy study was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH also is providing funding for the MRI project, including funds to cover some of the operating costs as well as the high-speed Internet connection.
Groundbreaking for the new facility is expected to take place later this month. It’s hoped the new facility will open for business in January 2008.
Saturday, 14 July 2007
July 13: Preparations -- what goes along with traveling to Africa
It's quite far away. Malawi, that is.
I realized that when I checked the flight itinerary and saw that I would be on a plane for about 15 straight hours from Washington D.C. to Ethiopia. Yikes. And yet, I know it will be worth it.
The planning for a trip like this, however, takes more than it would for a jaunt over the pond to London or even Italy. Sure, there's the passport to apply for and the Tylenol PMs to purchase. But there are also immunizations involved -- Yellow Fever, Hep. A and B, Polio and Typhoid in Malawi's case -- and then the Malaria pills, which must be taken everyday while there as well as a week upon return.
There's the doctor's signature that states you're in good health. And the hopes to find bug spray with as much DEET as possible.
The whole process is very alarming for us Westerners who are fortunate enough to not usually have to think about such diseases. About two months ago I signed up for the deal -- three shots in each arm -- with the nurse coaxing me every step of the way. I survived and even made it to the office afterward.
As the trip approached, I began purchasing other necessities for the venture over to Malawi. The women only wear long skirts, which means that's what we'll wear. Our team is helping build the linen supply for Children of the Nations, so we are each bringing white sheets and a towel to use and then leave behind. Each traveler is allowed two checked suitcases -- one we'll use for obvious reasons and the other we filled with donations.
Collecting donations was the easy part as people were so eager to give and be a part of this trip. We filled suitcase upon suitcase with donated clothes, toys, shoes, books and hygiene products last Saturday in preparation.
Needless to say, there's been some planning involved -- which seems to make the trip that much more exciting.
I realized that when I checked the flight itinerary and saw that I would be on a plane for about 15 straight hours from Washington D.C. to Ethiopia. Yikes. And yet, I know it will be worth it.
The planning for a trip like this, however, takes more than it would for a jaunt over the pond to London or even Italy. Sure, there's the passport to apply for and the Tylenol PMs to purchase. But there are also immunizations involved -- Yellow Fever, Hep. A and B, Polio and Typhoid in Malawi's case -- and then the Malaria pills, which must be taken everyday while there as well as a week upon return.
There's the doctor's signature that states you're in good health. And the hopes to find bug spray with as much DEET as possible.
The whole process is very alarming for us Westerners who are fortunate enough to not usually have to think about such diseases. About two months ago I signed up for the deal -- three shots in each arm -- with the nurse coaxing me every step of the way. I survived and even made it to the office afterward.
As the trip approached, I began purchasing other necessities for the venture over to Malawi. The women only wear long skirts, which means that's what we'll wear. Our team is helping build the linen supply for Children of the Nations, so we are each bringing white sheets and a towel to use and then leave behind. Each traveler is allowed two checked suitcases -- one we'll use for obvious reasons and the other we filled with donations.
Collecting donations was the easy part as people were so eager to give and be a part of this trip. We filled suitcase upon suitcase with donated clothes, toys, shoes, books and hygiene products last Saturday in preparation.
Needless to say, there's been some planning involved -- which seems to make the trip that much more exciting.
July 13: Out of the comfort zone
Its one of my favorite things to do -- put myself in a place where I'm not comfortable.
There, I'm forced to try new things, experience new adventures and meet people I've never dreamed existed. I'm always happy I did it. But, I've also found it to be a place where I am constantly humbled and reminded that I can't always do things by myself and that there are always good people in the world -- no matter where you go or how unrealistic that may seem.
It is with this attitude I take off to Malawi -- to be out of my comfort zone and to think of someone else other than myself for a change. That always sounds like a good idea, but once it gets close to leaving that place that is so comfortable, it's a bit scary. I think that's why so many people who have supported me in some way on this trip, have told me that they have either "thought about going on a trip like that" or are "planning to go on a trip like that" or "would love to go and do something like that." All I'm saying is swallow your pride, take the road less traveled and jump in -- there's nothing stopping you!
Here I go, I hope you'll follow me on this 10-day journey. I know my pride is just about to stamped on. And that's okay -- Malawi-bound it is.
There, I'm forced to try new things, experience new adventures and meet people I've never dreamed existed. I'm always happy I did it. But, I've also found it to be a place where I am constantly humbled and reminded that I can't always do things by myself and that there are always good people in the world -- no matter where you go or how unrealistic that may seem.
It is with this attitude I take off to Malawi -- to be out of my comfort zone and to think of someone else other than myself for a change. That always sounds like a good idea, but once it gets close to leaving that place that is so comfortable, it's a bit scary. I think that's why so many people who have supported me in some way on this trip, have told me that they have either "thought about going on a trip like that" or are "planning to go on a trip like that" or "would love to go and do something like that." All I'm saying is swallow your pride, take the road less traveled and jump in -- there's nothing stopping you!
Here I go, I hope you'll follow me on this 10-day journey. I know my pride is just about to stamped on. And that's okay -- Malawi-bound it is.
What 48 Central Floridians will do in Malawi
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to ten percent of the world's population, but nearly 70 percent of those infected with HIV/AIDS live there, according to UNAIDS. Nine out of 10 children living with HIV are African.
With various reasons and different backgrounds, 48 Central Floridians begin a ten-day journey early Friday morning to help fight the AIDS pandemic in a country called Malawi -- situated in the southeast of Africa.
Through Summit Church in Orlando, the team will join Children of the Nations, a nonprofit, faith-based organization headquartered outside of Seattle, with a local office in Maitland.
Having a presence in Malawi for about ten years, Children of the Nations aims to raise up orphaned and destitute children into healthy, educated adults who will be leaders in their society. The organization operates about a dozen foster homes with most of its staff being Malawi people.
The team of 48 Floridians will specifically work to encourage teenagers to get tested for HIV so they can be given antiretroviral drugs, which will prevent the disease from turning into AIDS.
According to 'The Skeptic's Guide to the Global AIDS crisis,' by Dale Hanson Bourke:
* By 2010, it's estimated there will be 25 million AIDS orphans in the world.
* Nearly 6,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 25 are infected every day.
* AIDS will have claimed the lives of at least one-fifth of agriculture workers in southern Africa by 2030.
* Every day, 1,500 children become infected with HIV.
Who I am and why I'm going
After graduating from college in 2004 with a degree in Journalism, I lived and worked European-style as a nanny in Italy for a year. A stint with the 2006 Winter Olympics gave me a new perspective on media and I now work for the Orlando Sentinel's business section.
In the past year, Africa has continued to get more publicity and I have found myself feeling more helpless in the cause. What better a way to conquer that than to go myself?
I go with hopes to bring back an experience and a knowledge that will change the hearts and help the minds of Central Floridians who feel just like me -- far too removed from the reality in Africa, overwhelmed with its huge problems and unable to fully grasp the AIDS pandemic and other economic situations -- therefore doing nothing.
With various reasons and different backgrounds, 48 Central Floridians begin a ten-day journey early Friday morning to help fight the AIDS pandemic in a country called Malawi -- situated in the southeast of Africa.
Through Summit Church in Orlando, the team will join Children of the Nations, a nonprofit, faith-based organization headquartered outside of Seattle, with a local office in Maitland.
Having a presence in Malawi for about ten years, Children of the Nations aims to raise up orphaned and destitute children into healthy, educated adults who will be leaders in their society. The organization operates about a dozen foster homes with most of its staff being Malawi people.
The team of 48 Floridians will specifically work to encourage teenagers to get tested for HIV so they can be given antiretroviral drugs, which will prevent the disease from turning into AIDS.
According to 'The Skeptic's Guide to the Global AIDS crisis,' by Dale Hanson Bourke:
* By 2010, it's estimated there will be 25 million AIDS orphans in the world.
* Nearly 6,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 25 are infected every day.
* AIDS will have claimed the lives of at least one-fifth of agriculture workers in southern Africa by 2030.
* Every day, 1,500 children become infected with HIV.
Who I am and why I'm going
After graduating from college in 2004 with a degree in Journalism, I lived and worked European-style as a nanny in Italy for a year. A stint with the 2006 Winter Olympics gave me a new perspective on media and I now work for the Orlando Sentinel's business section.
In the past year, Africa has continued to get more publicity and I have found myself feeling more helpless in the cause. What better a way to conquer that than to go myself?
I go with hopes to bring back an experience and a knowledge that will change the hearts and help the minds of Central Floridians who feel just like me -- far too removed from the reality in Africa, overwhelmed with its huge problems and unable to fully grasp the AIDS pandemic and other economic situations -- therefore doing nothing.
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