Malawi News

In the heart of Southern Africa, Malawi has taken a bold step in the fight against polio. After reporting its first case of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1) after 30 years in 2022, the country responded with urgency and resolve. By May 2024, thanks to multiple vaccination campaigns, vigilant surveillance and strengthened immunization systems, Malawi was declared polio-free once again. But the journey didn’t end there.

Lilongwe-As Malawi celebrates its first anniversary after officially closing its reimported wild poliovirus (WPV1) outbreak, the country is taking strategic steps to sustain hard-won gains and strengthen its broader health system. On 24 April 2025, health leaders, partners, and stakeholders gathered for the National Polio Transition Planning meeting, an important milestone in ensuring that the infrastructure built to eradicate polio continues to serve Malawi’s communities for years to come.

From Polio Response to Long-Term Resilience

As Malawi celebrates its first anniversary after officially closing its reimported wild poliovirus (WPV1) outbreak, the country is taking strategic steps to sustain hard-won gains and strengthen its broader health system. On 24 April 2025, health leaders, partners, and stakeholders gathered for the National Polio Transition Planning meeting, an important milestone in ensuring that the infrastructure built to eradicate polio continues to serve Malawi’s communities for years to come.

Lilongwe – The Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Health, officially launched the National Immunization Strategy (NIS) 2025–2030, a bold initiative designed to increase vaccine coverage, combat preventable diseases, and support the country’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The launch coincides with African Vaccination Week, celebrated from April 24 to 30 under the theme: “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible.”

WHO Representative Dr. Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo speaks at World TB and Leprosy Day commemoration in Lilongwe

Malawi has become the sixth country to introduce the VigiMobile Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) reporting tool. Over the past years, Malawi has made tremendous strides in improving its vaccine safety surveillance system. This has been shown in its ability to meet the minimum requirement of reporting 1 serious AEFI per million population and the ability to report over 1600 AEFI between January and November 2024.

Malawi has recognized the importance of tobacco control in national health strategies and development plans. The National Cancer Control Strategic Plan 2019-2029 includes the objective to reduce the use of and exposure to tobacco and tobacco products. The National Action Plan for the Prevention and Management of NCDs in Malawi 2022 identifies tobacco use as a leading NCD risk factor. The National Health Financing Strategy 2023-2030 supports using tobacco taxes as an innovative health financing mechanism.

The cholera containment and Mpox preparedness activities in Machinga District marked a critical intervention in safeguarding public health following the cholera outbreak declared on 10 September 2024. 

Zomba - In the remote community of Tongwe, an island on Lake Chirwa in Zomba district, Malawi, a small crowd gathers under the shade of an old mango tree as health workers prepare for the day’s vaccination drive. Among them is Mercy Simate, 34, a mother of six.  

She sits quietly, holding her four-month-old daughter, Victoria, on her lap. Today is a special day for Mercy and her youngest child. Victoria is about to receive her first doses of the Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DPT), Pneumococcal Conjugate, and Rotavirus vaccine.