Public health Institute of Malawi

Category: Latest News and Events

  • 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.

  • NHSRC Guidelines Review Workshop – Gap Analysis

    NHSRC Guidelines Review Workshop – Gap Analysis

    The research division in the Public Health Institute of Malawi, Ministry of Health conducted a gap analysis exercise with the aim of analyzing the gaps that the old guidelines have, informing from time, experiences and recent studies.

    This activity created a good platform to see research findings being translated into practice in form of guiding the daily conduct of activities, it brought together national research institutions to see and analyze the gaps that exist and create way forward and put together key thought that can be used to update the old guidelines which are no longer practical.

    A gap analysis document was produced that compiled all gaps observed in the old guidelines which is to be used in the formulation of the updated guidelines

    The exercise was conducted in order to have baseline information that can be used to update the NHSRC guidelines to inform and guide the current practice.