Malawi Validates National One Health Policy to Tackle Human, Animal, and Environmental Health Threats | PHIM

Policy & Governance Milestone

Malawi Validates National One Health Policy to Strengthen Multi-Sectoral Defense Against Zoonotic & Environmental Health Threats

Khwima Esther Mkalira | PHIM One Health Secretariat

30 April – 1 May 2026 5 min read Mponela, Dowa

Policy Validation Milestone

Bridging Human, Animal & Ecosystem Health

Over 50 senior leaders and technical officers across Ministries, academia, and security agencies converge at Linde Hotel, Mponela to finalize Malawi’s foundational One Health governance framework.

Facilitated by Ministry of Health & PHIM under the Malawi Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (MHEPRR) Project. Location: Linde Hotel, Mponela

MPONELA, DOWA — Marking a major turning point in national disease security, the Ministry of Health through the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) brought together key stakeholders from the human health, animal health, and environmental sectors from 30 April to 1 May 2026 to formally review and validate the draft National One Health Policy.

The two-day intensive validation workshop held at Linde Hotel provided a consensus-building platform for multi-sectoral experts to align national priorities. By establishing shared governance structures, clear institutional mandates, and joint surveillance protocols, the policy equips Malawi to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats originating at the human-animal-environment interface.

Core Policy Objective

“To establish an integrated, multi-sectoral governance framework that coordinates joint planning, outbreak response, research, and resource allocation across human, animal, wildlife, and environmental health authorities in Malawi.”

A Broad Multi-Sectoral Coalition

Emerging infectious diseases such as Rabies, Avian Influenza, Anthrax, Cholera, and Mpox—alongside the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)—cannot be managed by the health sector alone. Recognizing this reality, the validation workshop convened over 50 technical representatives and support personnel representing a wide institutional spectrum:

Government Ministries & Agencies

• Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM)
• Department of Animal Health & Livestock Development (DAHLD)
• Environmental Affairs Department (EAD)
• Department of Forestry & Department of National Parks & Wildlife
• Department of Water Resources
• Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) & Planning Division

Academia, Security & Specialized Cadres

• Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS)
• Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources (LUANAR)
• Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Health Services
• Clinical, Nursing, and Laboratory Officers
• International Health Regulations (IHR) & AMR Experts
• Risk Communication & Community Engagement (RCCE) & Gender Officers

Workshop Methodology & Deliberations

Chaired by Khwima Esther Mkalira with reporting led by Grace Choo, the sessions opened with keynote remarks by Dr. Chulu, who emphasized the strategic necessity of breaking down operational silos between government departments.

Lusayo Ghambi presented the workshop objectives, laying out the roadmap for validating policy statements, institutional mechanisms, and implementation arrangements. Mark Mwalabu led detailed plenary overviews and structured group work sessions where participants conducted line-by-line appraisals of the policy sections.

Key Expected Outcomes & Strategic Gains

Validated Framework

Finalized Policy Ready for Cabinet Submission: A consensus-backed National One Health Policy text ready for official government adoption and cabinet approval.

Coordinated Planning & M&E Framework: An operational blueprint for multi-sectoral planning, joint outbreak investigations, surveillance data sharing, and progress monitoring.

Enhanced Compliance with Global Health Security: Strengthening Malawi’s compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).

Shared Multi-Sectoral Ownership: Deepening commitment and resource coordination across Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Natural Resources, Office of the President and Cabinet, and defense sectors.

Key Recommendations & Lessons Learned

Stakeholders highlighted key operational recommendations to guide future consultations and implementation phases:

Early Engagement & Role Definition: Clearly define roles, expectations, and operational scopes at the onset of all multi-sectoral initiatives.
Timely Funding Release: Ensure prompt disbursement of project funds under the MHEPRR Project to enable thorough regional and district consultations.
Advance Document Distribution: Circulate technical drafts, policy briefs, and background materials well in advance of workshops to maximize structured feedback.
Dedicated Practical Review Time: Allocate adequate time during future policy sessions for deep-dive technical working groups.

Next Steps: Path to National Rollout

Following the successful integration of stakeholder feedback from the Mponela validation workshop, PHIM and the Ministry of Health will finalize the policy documentation for official government endorsement. Once approved, a nationwide launch and multi-sectoral orientation campaign will be rolled out to build public awareness and operationalize One Health committees at national and district levels.

Event At A Glance

Dates & Time 30 April – 1 May 2026 08:30 – 16:30 Daily

Venue Linde Hotel Mponela, Dowa District

Participation 50 Multi-Sectoral Delegates Human, Animal, Ecosystem & Defense

Funding Project MHEPRR Project Ministry of Health / World Bank

Session Facilitators & Leadership

Dr. Chulu Opening Address & Policy Vision

Khwima Esther Mkalira Workshop Chair & One Health Focal

Lusayo Ghambi Workshop Objectives & Scoping

Mark Mwalabu Policy Overview & Working Groups

Grace Choo Workshop Rapporteur

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<!– WORDPRESS HTML BLOCK CONTENT START –>
<div class=”phim-wp-article”>
    <p class=”has-drop-cap”><strong>MPONELA, MALAWI</strong> — In a major milestone for public health preparedness, the Ministry of Health through the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) brought together over 50 multi-sectoral stakeholders from <strong>30 April to 1 May 2026</strong> at Linde Hotel, Mponela to validate the draft <strong>National One Health Policy</strong>.</p>

<p>The workshop provided a collaborative consensus platform for technical experts across human health, animal health, wildlife, water, forestry, defense, and environmental sectors to finalize Malawi’s overarching framework for addressing health threats at the human-animal-environment interface.</p>

<h2>Participating Sectors & Institutional Representation</h2>
    <p>The policy validation brought together representatives from a wide coalition of government ministries and academic institutions:</p>
    <ul>
        <li><strong>Public Health & Human Health:</strong> PHIM, Ministry of Health Clinical, Nursing, Laboratory, IHR, AMR, RCCE, and Gender Officers.</li>
        <li><strong>Animal & Wildlife Health:</strong> Department of Animal Health & Livestock Development (DAHLD) and Department of National Parks & Wildlife.</li>
        <li><strong>Ecosystems & Water:</strong> Environmental Affairs Department (EAD), Department of Forestry, and Department of Water Resources.</li>
        <li><strong>Government & Defense:</strong> Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Planning Division, and Malawi Defence Force (MDF).</li>
        <li><strong>Academia & Research:</strong> Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) and Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resources (LUANAR).</li>
    </ul>

<h2>Key Expected Outcomes</h2>
    <blockquote class=”wp-block-quote”>
        <p><em>”The validation marks a crucial step toward establishing a coordinated national platform for joint outbreak investigation, surveillance data sharing, and resource alignment across all health sectors.”</em></p>
        <cite>Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM)</cite>
    </blockquote>

<figure class=”wp-block-table”>
        <table>
            <thead>
                <tr>
                    <th>Outcome Parameter</th>
                    <th>Strategic Impact</th>
                </tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody>
                <tr>
                    <td><strong>Validated Policy Text</strong></td>
                    <td>Ready for formal submission and adoption by Cabinet.</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td><strong>Implementation Governance</strong></td>
                    <td>Establishes multi-sectoral planning, monitoring, and evaluation structures.</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td><strong>International Compliance</strong></td>
                    <td>Strengthens Malawi’s adherence to IHR (2005) and Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).</td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td><strong>Institutional Ownership</strong></td>
                    <td>Secures active commitments across human, animal, and environmental ministries.</td>
                </tr>
            </tbody>
        </table>
    </figure>

<h2>Workshop Facilitation</h2>
    <p>The workshop was chaired by <strong>Khwima Esther Mkalira</strong> with reporting by <strong>Grace Choo</strong>. Key sessions included opening remarks by <strong>Dr. Chulu</strong>, scoping by <strong>Lusayo Ghambi</strong>, and plenary policy reviews led by <strong>Mark Mwalabu</strong>.</p>

<h2>Next Steps</h2>
    <p>Following the incorporation of workshop recommendations, PHIM will advance the National One Health Policy for cabinet approval, followed by an official national launch and dissemination strategy across all 28 districts.</p>
</div>
<!– WORDPRESS HTML BLOCK CONTENT END –>

# Malawi Validates National One Health Policy to Strengthen Multi-Sectoral Defense Against Zoonotic & Environmental Threats

**Mponela, Malawi** — The Ministry of Health through the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) convened over 50 multi-sectoral delegates from **30 April to 1 May 2026** at Linde Hotel, Mponela to review and validate the draft **National One Health Policy**.

### Participating Multi-Sectoral Coalition
The workshop brought together human, animal, and environmental health leaders from:
* **Public Health:** PHIM, Ministry of Health (Clinical, Nursing, Lab, IHR, AMR, RCCE, Gender).
* **Animal & Ecosystems:** Department of Animal Health & Livestock Development (DAHLD), Environmental Affairs Department (EAD), Forestry, Water Resources, National Parks & Wildlife.
* **Government & Academia:** Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Malawi Defence Force (MDF), KUHeS, and LUANAR.

### Expected Outcomes
1. **Cabinet-Ready Policy:** A validated National One Health Policy text ready for national adoption.
2. **Coordinated Framework:** Clear mechanisms for joint outbreak response and surveillance data sharing.
3. **Global Compliance:** Alignment with International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).

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Malawi Validates National One Health Policy to Tackle Human, Animal, and Environmental Health Threats.