Lucy Finch – African Nurse

The founder of Malawi’s first and only hospice, Lucy Finch called it Ndi Moyo or “the place giving life”. After working in many African countries as a palliative care nurse, she saw a need and wanted to help those in disadvantaged areas of Africa.

Finch was born in Malawi and was the oldest of eleven children. Her mother was a Anglican primary school teacher and thus she was educated at mission schools in southern Malawi. She trained to become a nurse in the United Kingdom. Traveling to Scotland to study nursing at the South Edinburgh School of Nursing.

After marrying her husband, Tony Finch, she traveled around to Uganda, Tanzania, Britain, and Zambia working as a nurse. Lucy also volunteered at the Hospice Africa Uganda, working with Dr. Anne Merriman with her new palliative care program.

In 2002, the Finches returned to Malawi and started to care for local patients and raised funds through a UK charity to found a hospice. In 2016, BBC named Finch one of the 100 most inspirational and influential women in the world. She stated that palliative care is not only about prolonging life, but “adding life to the days that remain”.

The feminine name Lucy is the English version of Lucia, which is the female form of Lucius. The masculine name Lucius is a Roman praenomen, or given name, that is derived from the Latin word lux that means “light”. In fact, it is the most popular of the praenomina.