Category: Latest News and Events

  • PHIM – Empowers  Human and Animal Health Workers In Salima Through IDSR & EBS Training

    PHIM – Empowers  Human and Animal Health Workers In Salima Through IDSR & EBS Training

    Human and animal health workers from the districts of Dowa, Dedza and Lilongwe districts recently completed a comprehensive training program on Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR), including Event-based surveillance (EBS) in Salima district.

    The training, organized by the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) with funding from Global Fund, aimed to enhance the capacity of IDSR focal persons and others related frontline professionals from both human and animal health sectors (one health) in early detection and response to priority diseases and public health events in the country.

    The course covered essential topics in relation to the core functions of IDSR and EBS, namely: Detection and recording of priority diseases, conditions or events; Reporting of priority diseases, conditions and events; Analysing and interpretation of data; Investigation and confirmation of suspected outbreaks and other public health events; Prepare and respond to outbreaks and other public health events; Risk Communication; Monitor, supervise, evaluate and provide feedback to improve surveillance and response; and Tailoring IDSR to emergency or fragile health system contexts. Topics under EBS included introduction to EBS and its importance, health facility and community EBS, EBS data entry, and EBS data visualisation, among others.

    Participants explored the web based application of the One Health Surveillance Platform (OHSP) within the context of IDSR and EBS, and explored parallels with HMIS modules. This holistic approach emphasizes collaboration among human health, animal health, and environment sectors to prevent and control diseases. The training emphasized effective risk communication strategies before, during, and after disease outbreaks. Health workers learned how to engage with communities, dispel misinformation, and promote preventive measures.

    For instance, Noel Khunga, one of the training facilitators and focal person for EBS, ensured that participants understood their roles in Community-Based Surveillance (CBS), emphasizing early detection, reporting, and response. Participants learned how to engage community leaders, traditional healers, and local volunteers to strengthen surveillance efforts. They also explored effective ways to utilize surveillance data.

    The training highlighted the critical role of community involvement in disease surveillance. “By analyzing trends and patterns, human and animal health workers can identify outbreaks early and implement timely interventions.”

    **Far Left in Blue: Mr. Austin Zgambo, National IDSR Manager.

    Mr. Austin Zgambo, National IDSR Manager, expressed optimism about the training’s impact. In his welcoming remarks during one of the training sessions, he said “As we embark on this journey, let’s acknowledge the critical role each of you plays in strengthening our health systems. Your dedication to learning and applying these guidelines will enhance our collective ability to detect, report, and respond to public health events promptly and effectively. Together, we will build a resilient surveillance system that safeguards the health of our communities, ensuring a coordinated response to diseases and conditions of priority. Let’s commit to this mission with the knowledge that our efforts today will shape the well-being of our society for years to come.”

  • Digitization of an Integrated Supervision Tool for the Malawi COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project at Kalipano Sunbird Hotel

    Digitization of an Integrated Supervision Tool for the Malawi COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project at Kalipano Sunbird Hotel

    The Malawi COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project (MCERHSP) plays a crucial role in managing the pandemic and ensuring effective healthcare delivery. One key aspect of this project is the digitization of supervision tools, which enhances data collection, analysis, and decision-making.

    The supervision tool combines elements from different domains, including disease surveillance, supply chain management, and service delivery. By digitizing this tool, we can streamline processes, improve data accuracy, and enhance overall efficiency. PHIM shall have benefit be empowered to actuate data driven decision making, for it will be able to analyze trends and patterns using aggregated data, and adjust strategies based on evidence drawn from this tool.

    Team exchanging knowledge during M&E digitized tool development

    Regina Mankhamba, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist emphasized on the need for digitization of the integrated supervision tool, she said ‘This is a significant step towards efficient and effective health systems management’.

    The integrated supervision tool shall serve as a comprehensive solution for monitoring and evaluating various health programs in Malawi at national, district and facility level. By leveraging technology, Malawi can enhance its COVID-19 response and preparedness efforts. Let’s continue to prioritize innovation and data-driven solutions for better public health outcomes.

  • Handover ceremony of High-speed Starlink internet and Pathogen genomics bioinformatics equipment at the Public Health Laboratory, PHIM.

    Handover ceremony of High-speed Starlink internet and Pathogen genomics bioinformatics equipment at the Public Health Laboratory, PHIM.

    The Public Health Laboratory (PHL) is a division in the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM).. PHL is a specialized laboratory system that offers advanced essential public health laboratory leadership through science and services. To achieve the goals the PHL requires strong leadership, professional staff, strong collaboration with partners and stakeholders and advanced technology. Partners like the World Bank, Africa Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (AfCDC) and, African Society of Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) have come in to assist in PHL services by adding human resources and equipment.

    On 1st June 2024 the African Society of Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) donated 3 high-speed desktop computers, 2 high-speed laptops and a server to be used in the data processing, especially in genome sequencing and bioinformatics that generate a huge amount of data.The ceremony was presided over by the Deputy Director responsible for the PHL assisted by Dr Mirriam Nyenje the head of NGSRL.

    The Deputy Director appreciates the performance of one of the unpacked high-speed laptops.
    The Deputy Director responsible for the Public Health  Laboratory and Dr. Mirriam Nyenje head of the National Genomics Sequencing Reference Laboratory receiving equipment from the ASLM representative.

    Among the items donated by ASLM was a high-performance SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile RV Satellite Internet Kit. In his appreciation speech, Mr Joseph Bitilinyu Bangoh thanked ASLM for this timely donation which will improve the network required for the sequencing and bioinformatics Illumina machines for sequencing and bioinformatics. Starlink has high-speed internet for Basespase, a software that analyses sequencing data on the Illumina machines. This means that Malawi will have enhanced genomic surveillance for various pathogens and the turnaround time for the results will be improved.

    Unpacked Starlink internet package ready for installation.

    Immediately after the reception of the items the Stalink internet kits were installed by the local engineer paid for by ASLM. Smilingly Dr Mirriam Nyenje the head of NGSRL in Malawi thanked ASLM for the work and the support of the items to the installation stage. She happily said that Malawi will benefit a lot and that science will be at work.

    The Deputy Director Mr Bitilinyu Bango appreciates the installation of the high-speed Starlink internet items while the installation technician explains the specifications

    The Starlink internet could reach the downloading speed of 89.25 Megabytes per second. After installation and activation, the internet started working at a very high speed and Illumina NeqSeq 1000 responded well to Dragen Software promising a good future sequencing and bioinformatics.