Hospital Chaplain - Rev Kanyochole

Rev Kanyochole is the Blantyre Synod Hospital Chaplain.
He is also a minister with a congregation in Blantyre. Rev Kanyochole serves at Naotcha CCAP, in Chilobwe. The church is located in the south-east of Blantyre, near the Chikwawa Road.
You can contact Rev Kanyochole on 0999302002 or you can contact him or the session clerk at the congregation with [email protected] (session clerk & minister). The times of the services at Naotcha CCAP are as follows:
7am - 9am English
9am - 11am Chichewa
Rev Kanyochole also has an office at the Blantyre Synod HQ. He is pictured here outside the Synod Offices near St Michael and All Angels.
Work of the Hospital Chaplain
1/ visit the patients and take time to talk with them,
2/ pray with them and their guardians,
3/ share the Word of God from the bible,
4/ ensure that patients receive their medication - the chaplain informs them of their rights,
5/ counseling (e.g. mediation between patient and nurse).
The Need for a Hospital Chapel at Queen Elizabeth
One of the challenges facing the ministry in the largest hospital, Queen Elizabeth, is that there is no chapel at the hospital. It should be understood that not only are there many patients and staff within the hospital, but there is a very large number of guardians with the patients. The guardians are typically close relatives who look after the physical needs of the patients while they are in the hospital. Patients sometimes have three or four guardians with them. Many people stay overnight and sometimes sleep on the floor. As they provide extra food for the patients they also have a kitchen. Because of the large number of people at the hospital, a chapel would greatly assist in the Christian ministry to patients, guardians and staff.
Indeed there is space for a chapel that the hospital authorities have made available. All that is lacking are the funds to build.
What are the main roles of guardians?
1. Look after patients
i) food, water
ii) ensure that patient is taking the medicine
iii) alert medical staff if an emergency arises
iv) work in rotas
v) washing patient and their clothes (hospital only provides the bedding)
Some patients do not have a guardian.
Questions and Answers - this is an edited version of an interview, it is not verbatim.
Website Editor (WE): Do you have support from other ministers, elders, congregants?
Rev Kanyochole (RK): Yes - when the local congregation has someone there. However, I visit patients from all backgrounds, whether CCAP or not, whether Christians or not."
WE: Do non-Christian patients seek spiritual guidance?
RK: Yes - some wish to come closer to God. We witness to these people. Some believe and wish to repent and be baptised.
WE: What are most non-Christians who you minister to?
RK: Most non-Christians are pagans.
WE: How do you reach all the patients? There are so many.
RK: It would be impossible, I spend time with some.
WE: If there was a chapel - would it be for all?
RK: Other churches could and would use it, they would be most welcome.
WE: If you had the money, does the hospital have an area they would give you?
RK: Exactly, they have an area. The request has been made.
WE: Do you have a committee that supports you at the hospital? Something like the Friends of The Prison Ministry that support Rev Chimesya in his work?
RK: We do not have something exactly like that. However, we do have a committee that includes nurses & other staff at the hospital (cooks and drivers). They are CCAP people and we meet on Tuesdays.
WE: Do they fund-raise?
RK: No.
WE: How do you travel around the hospitals?
RK: I use my own common sense as no transport is provided. I will use a minibus or catch a lift.
WE: Which hospitals do you visit?
RK: I visit the fllowing:
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital
Mlambe Mission Hospital - Roman Catholic - Lunzu
Malabanda Hospital (Ndirande). Mission Hospital, CCAP
Gombwa Hospital, 7th Day private hospital.
Mulanje Mission Hospital
Zomba Central Hospital - I was transferred from being Chaplain there to QE
7th Day Adventist, near the Anglican Church in the centre of town
WE: What are the main challenges?
RK:
1/ no transport
2/ no office at the hospital
3/ not enough bibles for the patients
4/ no transport for patients to get home - the hospital chaplain has to provide
WE: How do you assess the faith of the patients?
RK: Some have little faith, some know that there is a God who can heal
WE: Would you welcome volunteers from abroad. People to assist by joining with you in visiting and ministering to the sick?
RK: Absolutely.
WE: Thank you very much for your time.
He is also a minister with a congregation in Blantyre. Rev Kanyochole serves at Naotcha CCAP, in Chilobwe. The church is located in the south-east of Blantyre, near the Chikwawa Road.
You can contact Rev Kanyochole on 0999302002 or you can contact him or the session clerk at the congregation with [email protected] (session clerk & minister). The times of the services at Naotcha CCAP are as follows:
7am - 9am English
9am - 11am Chichewa
Rev Kanyochole also has an office at the Blantyre Synod HQ. He is pictured here outside the Synod Offices near St Michael and All Angels.
Work of the Hospital Chaplain
1/ visit the patients and take time to talk with them,
2/ pray with them and their guardians,
3/ share the Word of God from the bible,
4/ ensure that patients receive their medication - the chaplain informs them of their rights,
5/ counseling (e.g. mediation between patient and nurse).
The Need for a Hospital Chapel at Queen Elizabeth
One of the challenges facing the ministry in the largest hospital, Queen Elizabeth, is that there is no chapel at the hospital. It should be understood that not only are there many patients and staff within the hospital, but there is a very large number of guardians with the patients. The guardians are typically close relatives who look after the physical needs of the patients while they are in the hospital. Patients sometimes have three or four guardians with them. Many people stay overnight and sometimes sleep on the floor. As they provide extra food for the patients they also have a kitchen. Because of the large number of people at the hospital, a chapel would greatly assist in the Christian ministry to patients, guardians and staff.
Indeed there is space for a chapel that the hospital authorities have made available. All that is lacking are the funds to build.
What are the main roles of guardians?
1. Look after patients
i) food, water
ii) ensure that patient is taking the medicine
iii) alert medical staff if an emergency arises
iv) work in rotas
v) washing patient and their clothes (hospital only provides the bedding)
Some patients do not have a guardian.
Questions and Answers - this is an edited version of an interview, it is not verbatim.
Website Editor (WE): Do you have support from other ministers, elders, congregants?
Rev Kanyochole (RK): Yes - when the local congregation has someone there. However, I visit patients from all backgrounds, whether CCAP or not, whether Christians or not."
WE: Do non-Christian patients seek spiritual guidance?
RK: Yes - some wish to come closer to God. We witness to these people. Some believe and wish to repent and be baptised.
WE: What are most non-Christians who you minister to?
RK: Most non-Christians are pagans.
WE: How do you reach all the patients? There are so many.
RK: It would be impossible, I spend time with some.
WE: If there was a chapel - would it be for all?
RK: Other churches could and would use it, they would be most welcome.
WE: If you had the money, does the hospital have an area they would give you?
RK: Exactly, they have an area. The request has been made.
WE: Do you have a committee that supports you at the hospital? Something like the Friends of The Prison Ministry that support Rev Chimesya in his work?
RK: We do not have something exactly like that. However, we do have a committee that includes nurses & other staff at the hospital (cooks and drivers). They are CCAP people and we meet on Tuesdays.
WE: Do they fund-raise?
RK: No.
WE: How do you travel around the hospitals?
RK: I use my own common sense as no transport is provided. I will use a minibus or catch a lift.
WE: Which hospitals do you visit?
RK: I visit the fllowing:
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital
Mlambe Mission Hospital - Roman Catholic - Lunzu
Malabanda Hospital (Ndirande). Mission Hospital, CCAP
Gombwa Hospital, 7th Day private hospital.
Mulanje Mission Hospital
Zomba Central Hospital - I was transferred from being Chaplain there to QE
7th Day Adventist, near the Anglican Church in the centre of town
WE: What are the main challenges?
RK:
1/ no transport
2/ no office at the hospital
3/ not enough bibles for the patients
4/ no transport for patients to get home - the hospital chaplain has to provide
WE: How do you assess the faith of the patients?
RK: Some have little faith, some know that there is a God who can heal
WE: Would you welcome volunteers from abroad. People to assist by joining with you in visiting and ministering to the sick?
RK: Absolutely.
WE: Thank you very much for your time.