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Author: Moses Nyambalo Phiri

  • Malawi Port of Entry (PoE) Self-Screening Process.

    Malawi Port of Entry (PoE) Self-Screening Process.

    Malawi Port of Entry (PoE) Self-Screening Process

    A streamlined digital health check for all arriving travellers.

    Kamuzu International Airport, Lilongwe, Malawi
    Featured Port of Entry
    Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) — Lilongwe, Malawi

    To ensure a smooth and safe arrival, Malawi has implemented a streamlined digital health declaration system. Please follow the steps below to complete your health check before arriving at the Port of Entry.

    Phase 1: Complete the Health Declaration

    1 Open the Form

    Visit the official self-screening address on a connected device. Official Portal: https://mwpoehealth.ecsahc.com/self-screen

    2 Enter Trip Details

    Select your point of entry, arrival date, route, and recent travel history.

    3 Enter Your Details

    Use your travel document name (Passport or ID) and provide reachable contact details.

    4 Answer Health Questions

    Accurately declare any symptoms you have today and any relevant recent exposures.

    Phase 2: Generate and Scan the QR Pass

    5 Review and Submit

    Check your entries, provide consent, complete the human check verification, and then submit.

    6 Save the QR Pass

    The completion screen generates a QR code and a reference number; ensure you save this image.

    7 Show the Pass

    Present the saved QR image to the Port Health Officer upon your arrival.

    8 Officer Screens

    The officer scans your QR pass to retrieve answers and complete primary or secondary screening. If scanning fails, present your reference number. If you do not have a pass, the officer will screen you directly at the post.

    Note for Travellers: For a complete visual guide of the mobile interface and screening flows, please refer to the official institutional guide:
    Access the Self-Screening Portal

    Authored & Published By

    Moses Nyambalo Phiri

    Public Health Institute of Malawi

    Ministry of Health.

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  • Orientation Workshop on the NAPHS Implementation Tracker.

    Strengthening Monitoring and Coordinated Implementation of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) | PHIM

    Strengthening Monitoring and Coordinated Implementation of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS): Orientation Workshop on the NAPHS Implementation Tracker for Technical Area Leads

    The Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM), in collaboration with WHO and MOH, convened Technical Area Leads in Salima for a 4-day orientation workshop on the NAPHS Implementation Tracker to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and multi-sectoral health security governance.

    Health Security Governance Milestone

    Strengthening Monitoring and Coordinated Implementation of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS): Orientation Workshop on the NAPHS Implementation Tracker for Technical Area Leads

    Khwima Esther Mkalira | PHIM Epidemiology Division
    22 – 25 September 2026 4 min read Salima
    Health Security Tracker Rollout

    Operationalizing Health Security Monitoring

    Technical Area Leads across government ministries, defense, and specialized agencies gather at Sigelege Beach Resort to align national health security priorities and master the NAPHS Implementation Tracker.

    Organized by PHIM, WHO, and Ministry of Health under the World Bank-funded MHEPRR Project. Location: Sigelege Beach Resort, Salima

    SALIMA — In a significant step toward bolstering national health security accountability and multi-sectoral performance tracking, the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, convened a four-day intensive orientation workshop from 22 to 25 September 2026 at Sigelege Beach Resort in Salima.

    The four-day session brought together Technical Area Leads and multi-disciplinary health security cadres to orient them on the newly adopted NAPHS Implementation Tracker, enhance routine monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and conduct a comprehensive review of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) Narrative Document.

    Core Workshop Objective

    “To orient Technical Area Leads on the NAPHS Implementation Tracker, strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and coordinated execution across all 19 technical areas of the National Action Plan for Health Security, and ensure the NAPHS Narrative Document strictly aligns with national priorities.”

    Broad Multi-Sectoral Cadres & Institutional Representation

    Effective health security operationalization relies on rigorous cross-sectoral engagement. The workshop assembled 22 dedicated participants (14 male and 8 female) representing core government sectors, security services, academic partners, and technical leadership:

    Participating Institutions

    • Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM)
    • Ministry of Health (MOH)
    • Department of Animal Health & Livestock Development (DAHLD)
    • Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Health Services
    • Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa Programme (TDDAP)
    • Quality Management Division (QMD)
    • Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability & Social Welfare (MOGLDS)
    • Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development (MOLA)

    Technical Cadres & Support Team

    • NAPHS Technical Area Leads
    • Programme & Epidemiology Officers
    • Laboratory & Nursing Specialists
    • Quality Management & Gender Officers
    • Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Officers
    • Senior Leadership (Deputy Director, Consultant, Financial Officers)
    • WHO & PHIM Technical Coordination Staff

    Workshop Methodology & Hands-On Tracker Orientation

    Facilitated by technical experts including Mark Mwalabu (PHIM), Dr. Chapotera, Dr. Nelly, Blessings Likoswe, and Khwima Esther Mkalira (PHIM), the workshop provided structured balance between theoretical orientation and hands-on application. Opening and closing ceremonies were jointly anchored by PHIM/MOH and WHO leadership.

    During plenary and practical working groups, participants conducted a line-by-line review of the NAPHS narrative document to confirm narrative accuracy and technical precision. Subsequently, Technical Area Leads completed direct practical group exercises using the NAPHS Implementation Tracker. These exercises built practical skills, allowed leads to finalize baseline tracker entries, and created consensus on immediate implementation actions.

    Key Expected Outcomes & Strategic Gains

    Deliverables
    1
    Proficiency in Tracker Utilization: Technical Area Leads across all domains acquired hands-on mastery in operating the NAPHS Implementation Tracker effectively.
    2
    Institutionalized Quarterly Tracking: Established a standardized protocol for routine monitoring and mandatory quarterly reporting to PHIM across all 19 technical areas.
    3
    Unified & Coordinated Oversight: Harmonized tracking mechanisms across multi-sectoral ministries to ensure consistency and transparency in health security implementation.
    4
    Validated NAPHS Narrative Document: Finalized the updated NAPHS Narrative Document, making it ready for official endorsement by PHIM senior leadership.

    Key Recommendations & Lessons Learned

    To ensure long-term sustainability and streamline ongoing monitoring, participants agreed on key actionable recommendations:

    • Incorporate M&E Refreshers: Embed concise M&E and tracker refresher sessions supported by simplified user guides at the beginning of all future orientation workshops.
    • Senior Leadership Endorsement: Timely submission of the reviewed NAPHS Narrative document to PHIM senior management for formal endorsement.
    • Provide Tailored Technical Support: Schedule continuous target-coaching sessions for technical teams requiring additional support on tracker data entry.

    Future Plans & Next Steps

    Following the successful completion of the Salima orientation, PHIM will roll out the routine use of the NAPHS Tracker across all 19 technical areas, enforcing quarterly reporting cycles. Dedicated technical support and coaching sessions will be scheduled for technical areas requiring further guidance to ensure full operational capacity nationwide.

    Divisional Contact Persons

    National Laboratory: Happy Manda & Chris Misomali
    Research Division: Alex Thawani & Hamdan Saidi
    Surveillance & Epidemiology: Shaibu Safari & Annie Kaliati
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    Submitted & Published By

    Khwima Esther Mkalira

    Epidemiology Division, Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM)

    Ministry of Health, Republic of Malawi

  • Malawi Strengthens Early Warning System by Pairing EIOS Refresher Training with Community Health Hotline.

    Malawi Strengthens Early Warning System by Pairing EIOS Refresher Training with Community Health Hotline.

    Malawi Strengthens Early Warning System by Pairing EIOS Refresher Training with Community Health Hotline | PHIM
    25 September 2026 4 min read Lilongwe
    PHIM EIOS Refresher and CCPP Hotline Training Workshop in Lilongwe
    Workshop Feature
    Participants during the EIOS and CCPP Hotline Event-Based Surveillance Training in Lilongwe. Photo: Moses Nyambalo Phiri

    To significantly enhance the country’s capacity to detect and respond to emerging public health threats before they escalate, the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) conducted a comprehensive five-day training workshop from 21 to 25 September 2026 at the Lifestyle Boutique – Lilongwe Hotel.

    The initiative uniquely combined a refresher course in Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) for public health surveillance officers with specialized Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) capacity building for staff operating the national Chipatala Cha Pa Phone (CCPP) health hotline.

    Why Early Warning Matters

    Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) is a web-based, state-of-the-art platform supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health partners. It enables public health teams to systematically scan formal news outlets, social networks, blogs, and digital media to pick up early signals of potential disease outbreaks and biological risks—often well before traditional clinical reporting systems capture them.

    EIOS serves as a critical pillar within Malawi’s Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) framework. However, maintaining high-level surveillance capabilities requires routine practice and continuous skill reinforcement.

    Aligning with Global Best Practice

    Skills naturally fade without continuous practice. Malawi’s refresher training mirrors global best practices where nations periodically consolidate EIOS capabilities. For example, Sri Lanka’s 2026 EIOS training built upon its foundational 2023 course to establish a dedicated EBS core team and refine standard operating procedures for signal triage, verification, documentation, and reporting.

    Two Components, One Integrated System

    The five-day intensive workshop brought together approximately 40 key stakeholders and was structured into two distinct but complementary phases:

    1 Days 1–3: EIOS Refresher for Officers

    PHIM surveillance officers engaged in real-time simulated health events and hands-on exercises to master the full signal management pathway:

    • Identification & Screening of mass web data
    • Assessment & Verification with local context
    • Analysis of public health risk severity
    • Documentation & Escalation to decision-makers
    2 Days 4–5: EBS for CCPP Hotline Staff
    Chipatala Cha Pa Phone Hotline EBS Training Session

    Community members are often the first to observe unusual illness clusters or animal deaths. Chipatala Cha Pa Phone operators were trained to:

    • Recognize predefined EBS signals during routine calls
    • Capture core epidemiological details accurately
    • Escalate threats promptly to district & national focal points
    • Log actionable signals separately from routine inquiries

    Building on Existing National Infrastructure

    A key principle of this initiative is sustainability. Rather than creating redundant or parallel reporting channels, PHIM is strategically integrating the established Chipatala Cha Pa Phone (929) hotline into Malawi’s formal Event-Based Surveillance architecture.

    This linkage broadens the nation’s early warning inputs, dramatically accelerates threat detection and response times, and directly supports Malawi’s international commitments under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

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    Authored & Published By

    Moses Nyambalo Phiri

    Public Health Institute of Malawi

    Ministry of Health, Republic of Malawi