by Dene Marcello
Malawian Physician Dr. Agnes Moses Awarded $500,000 Gerson L’Chaim Prize to Expand Surgical Care and Strengthen Healthcare Systems at Partners in Hope Hospital
African Mission Healthcare is honored to announce that Dr. Agnes Moses, Executive Director of Partners in Hope (PIH) Hospital in Malawi, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Gerson L’Chaim Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service. This $500,000 award — the world’s largest annual prize dedicated to direct clinical care — is granted to the laureate’s institution to expand high-impact, life-saving health programs.
At Partners in Hope, this investment will serve as a catalyst for the hospital’s next phase of growth.
The award will:
- Recruit an additional surgeon
- Purchase laparoscopic equipment to expand minimally invasive surgical capacity
- Strengthen continuity of care for vulnerable HIV patients
- Expand access to essential surgical services across central Malawi
As Dr. Jon Fielder, Co-Founder and CEO of African Mission Healthcare, shared:
“This $500,000 investment will expand access to much-needed surgical services while ensuring continuity of care for vulnerable patients and strengthening long-term local capacity.”
A Proven Model of Care in Malawi
Founded in 2004 in response to Malawi’s HIV epidemic, Partners in Hope has grown into one of the country’s most effective and trusted healthcare delivery systems. Working closely with the Malawi Ministry of Health, PIH now:
- Cares for more than 220,000 HIV patients across nine districts
- Provides 20% of Malawi’s viral load laboratory services
- Mentors 130 clinics and hospitals nationwide
Over 16 years of partnership with African Mission Healthcare, PIH has transformed from a missionary-led HIV initiative into a Malawian-led comprehensive hospital system serving some of the most vulnerable communities in the country.
Why Continuity of HIV Care Matters
Partners in Hope continues to provide free HIV care for the poor, ensuring that patients have uninterrupted access to life-saving antiretroviral medications.
This continuity is critical.
When HIV patients consistently take their medications, the virus becomes undetectable in their blood — which not only protects their own health but prevents transmission to others. However, when treatment is interrupted, the virus can rebound. Inconsistent adherence also increases the risk that HIV becomes resistant to first-line medications, which are the most affordable and widely available treatments in Malawi.
Drug resistance forces patients onto more complex and significantly more expensive second- or third-line regimens — options that are far more difficult for under-resourced health systems to sustain.
By safeguarding continuity of care, Partners in Hope protects individual patients, strengthens public health outcomes, and preserves the long-term viability of Malawi’s national HIV program.
Strengthening Healthcare Systems Beyond HIV
While PIH remains a national leader in HIV care, its mission now extends well beyond HIV services. The hospital provides:
- General medical and surgical care
- Intensive care services
- Laboratory and radiology services
- Renal dialysis
- Emergency and critical care
Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than half its population living below the international poverty line. Access to safe surgery and comprehensive hospital care remains limited for millions.
The Gerson L’Chaim Prize is designed to catalyze broader institutional growth. Building on the surgical expansion supported by this award, Partners in Hope is positioned to:
- Expand surgical volume and complexity
- Add additional healthcare workers
- Invest in essential equipment
- Extend clinical outreach to surrounding communities
These next-phase investments are expected to require an additional $700,000 and will significantly increase the hospital’s ability to care for patients with complex and urgent medical needs.
Leadership That Builds for Generations
“Dr. Agnes Moses embodies the heart of the L’Chaim Prize,” said Dr. Fielder. “Her faith, humility, and unwavering dedication to the people of Malawi have produced measurable improvements in healthcare delivery, workforce development, and institutional excellence.”
Under her leadership, Partners in Hope exemplifies sustainable mission healthcare — training local professionals, strengthening systems, and building institutions that will serve communities for generations to come.
This award is not simply recognition. It is an investment in Malawi’s future. Partner with African Mission Healthcare and Partners and Hope to provide hope to those needing care in Malawi. Please give.