Dear friends,
As I reflect on a recent trip to Malawi, two opposite thoughts compete for attention in my head: On one hand, endless inspiration and celebration for what we’ve accomplished. On the other, the need to summon inner resolve for so much hard work ahead.
Partners In Health’s work is never easy, and it’s never finished. But knowing our community of supporters is standing with us—supporting our mission and driving real change alongside communities you may never see in person—reminds me that together, we’re capable of doing so much good.
In Malawi, I spent a week with patients and health workers who are part of this journey. In a remote region called Dambe, I met a community health worker named Peter who took part in a goat pass-on livelihood project supported by PIH Canada. Stipends received by CHWs are small, and Peter said the income generated by the goats allowed him to continue working as a CHW and serving his community. Meanwhile, he took excellent care of the goats and, over a few years, saw his initial three goats multiply to… wait for it… 24. The income and fertilizer the goats provided have changed his life, just as he changes the lives of neighbours he accompanies on the path to better health.
This is the resilience and work ethic that defines so many communities PIH serves. Ensuring CHWs have the support they need is one small example of what needs to be done to ensure health care reaches everyone, no matter their circumstances. Health care shouldn’t be determined by where you live, your income, or your gender. It’s a human right, one that requires each of us to work in partnership to make it real.
Whether it’s health workers in Liberia guiding expectant mothers, TB outreach teams in Lesotho reaching remote villages, or advocacy efforts bringing health equity to the forefront of national agendas, we are advancing towards a future where every person, everywhere, can access dignified care. The season ahead brings renewed hope and focus to this work, especially as we approach Giving Tuesday on Dec. 3, our requests for year-end support, and the opportunities a new year brings.
And yet, there is still so much to do. Structural barriers—including poverty, gender inequality, violence, and fragile health systems—continue to stand between too many people and the care they deserve. But as Paul Farmer often reminded us, PIH is about “doing hard things with friends.” Real change, he believed, requires solidarity, persistence, and a willingness to take on difficult work together. This season, I invite you to be part of that commitment with us.
We have a lot planned for the coming days, including an opportunity to double the impact of your support with a gift-matching campaign starting Nov. 19. Every contribution, and every action, bring us closer to a world where health care is not a privilege but a right.
Poverty doesn’t decide who gets health care. Gender doesn’t decide. Geography doesn’t decide. We have to decide.
Thank you for being part of this work. Thank you for believing, with us, that health equity is achievable. To donate today, visit pihcanada.org/donate_today. We look forward to sharing more in the days ahead.
With appreciation,
Mark Brender
National Director
Partners In Health Canada