Personal Data
Elizabeth (Liz) Mach is originally from Pine City, MN where she was a member of Immaculate Conception Parish, Diocese of Duluth.  Liz is a nurse and has been a lay missioner since the program's origin in 1976. She is one of 3 missioners who have served for more than 25 years.

Her mission service began in Tanzania in 1976 where she worked until 1982.  She worked in leadership and administrative roles for MKLM in the United States and then returned to work in the northern and southern Sudan.  Liz returned to Tanzania in 1997 to work at the Bugando Medical Center (BMC) as a nurse and patient advocate.  After 11 years of service there Liz has chosen to return to rural ministry in the Diocese of Musoma in north western Tanzania.

Current Ministry
Liz’s primary ministry is as nurse and administrative assistant at Kowak Hospital in northwestern Tanzania. Kowak was first established by Maryknoll on their arrival to Tanzania in the 1950’s. There have been numerous priests, brothers, sisters and lay missioners who have left their mark there and it is a place of great history for Maryknoll.

At Kowak, Liz is a clinical officer, works in the pharmacy and laboratory and report writer. She has helped establish a Care and Treatment Center (CTC) for HIV/AIDS patients at the hospital. While the current incidence rate reported by the government for the country is 7% for HIV, at Kowak Hospital they are seeing a rate of 25-30% infective. There is tremendous need for care and treatment during this AIDS pandemic.

Liz also works with 21 HIV positive children through a program established by Maryknoll Sister Marion Hughes with whom Liz is living. This program provides emotional support for family and caregivers as well as food supplements.

Liz also continues to be involved in the prevention and care of obstetric fistula and continues her research in this area.