Local residents reflect on the 25th anniversary of GAIA Global Health
Twenty-five years ago, Bay Area resident Rev. Dr. Bill Rankin opted for an audacious retirement: co-founding (with UCSF neurosurgeon Charlie Wilson) an international health organization to alleviate the suffering caused by HIV/AIDS in Malawi.
I first heard of GAIA at a presentation by Bill in Portola Valley where he talked about his vision for this organization. I was moved and inspired then — and I am still inspired by this organization making such a powerful and lasting impact on so many people’s lives. Being so inspired, I have been a supporter for years and am now on the GAIA Board.
On Friday, September 26, GAIA Global Health’s supporters will gather at the top of Salesforce Tower to celebrate our first quarter century of impact in Malawi, where AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 81%, and over 91% among children! Furthermore, new infections — the key metric providing hope for an AIDS-free future — have fallen even more.
At the same time, GAIA’s work has branched into other treatable but potentially deadly diseases like malaria, pneumonia, and diarrheal disease among children, with notable impact on all fronts.
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How does GAIA achieve this success?
Reaching 35 remote community sites weekly in southern Malawi, GAIA’s seven Mobile Health Clinics provide quality healthcare for over 5,000 people each week. Where fixed health facilities are limited and long distances to healthcare gravely impact the health of women and children, GAIA mobile clinics bring healthcare to the hardest-to-reach areas of Malawi, transforming the health landscape for the women and their children who comprise 90% of mobile clinic clients.
In addition, GAIA provides long-term health infra-structure with its Nursing Scholar Program, providing wrap-around support for economically disadvantaged nursing students so that high quality health workers are trained, licensed and deployed. To date GAIA has had 592 nursing scholars graduate from the program of which 80% are women,
Lisa Deal, Atherton resident and GAIA Board member, reflected: “My trip to Malawi was nothing short of inspiring. Meeting GAIA’s incredible staff, visiting rural mobile health clinics, and speaking with our Nursing Scholars showed me the power of compassion in action. GAIA is not only delivering life-saving care to communities who need it most, but also shaping the future of healthcare by training the next generation to serve.”
Atherton resident Marty Arscott, a former GAIA Board member said: “I first visited Malawi to see GAIA’s work in 2010. At that point the devastation of the HIV/AIDS crisis had left one million orphans and eliminated much of the parent generation. With Malawi being among the most impoverished countries in the world, the impact on the population was devastating.
“Over the next 15 years, GAIA’s work helped reverse the pandemic, building essential infrastructure alongside Malawian efforts to reach the most vulnerable and rural populations. GAIA’s services have expanded far beyond HIV/AIDS treatment and now includes a wide array of medical support from malaria prevention to post natal care. Continuing this progress in the face of the unexpected cancellation of US government support is the challenge GAIA is committed to facing.”
Note: Bill Rankin passed away at the age of 80 in 2022.
Learn more about GAIA and its anniversary event.
Author Timi Most is a long time resident of Menlo Park.
Photos courtesy of GAIA Global Health
