Any serious illness comes with a psychological burden, but for cancer patients, the emotional toll can be particularly overwhelming.

Cancer affects not only patients but also their families and communities. Because treatment often takes a long time, patients and their guardians spend extended periods at health facilities.

But what happens when the very place meant to provide care adds to the hardship?
This is the situation at the National Cancer Centre in Lilongwe. Opened on 2 July 2025, the facility is receiving more patients than anticipated.

Compounding the challenge, the centre was built without a shelter for guardians. As a result, some patients and guardians are forced to sleep on verandas as they wait for medical appointments and treatment.