Tag: PHIM-Event

  • Malawi Hosts National Bridging Workshop to Strengthen One Health Approach

    Malawi Hosts National Bridging Workshop to Strengthen One Health Approach

    National Bridging Workshop

    Lilongwe ,Malawi – August 13, 2025..
    by
    Moses Nyambalo Phiri in collaboration with Mark Mwalabu, and Settie Kanyanda.

    The Government of Malawi, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the UN Environment Programme, hosted its FIRST-EVER National Bridging Workshop (NBW). This workshop aimed to enhance the country’s “One Health” multisectoral approach by improving collaboration among human, animal, and environmental health sectors to prevent and respond to public health threats.

    Dr. Martias Joshua, Chief of Services-Reforms – MoH.

    Dr. Joshua highlighted Malawi’s commitment to One Health, noting that the country has already initiated a One Health Policy and prioritized zoonotic diseases for urgent multisectoral action.

    Dr. Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, WHO Malawi Country Representative.

    “Emphasized that a majority of emerging and re-emerging human diseases originate from the complex interplay between animals, humans, and the environment,” hence Bridging is the solution, Dr. Neema, WHO.

    Stated that the “workshop helps connect the JEE and PVS tools to develop a joint national roadmap.”, George Mvula.

    George Mvula, FAO Representative

    Pointed out that the “NBW identifies practical opportunities for joint initiatives to build a resilient health system.”, Dr. Moetapele Letshwenyo.

    Dr. Moetapele Letshwenyo, WOAH Representative for Southern Africa.

    This workshop is a crucial stride toward building a unified, resilient health system in Malawi. By strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation, the nation is proactively preparing to tackle present and future public health challenges effectively.

  • PHIM Hosts NIPH Director General – Enhancing the Longstanding Collaboration and Celebrating Public Health Milestones.

    PHIM Hosts NIPH Director General – Enhancing the Longstanding Collaboration and Celebrating Public Health Milestones.

    NIPH VISITS PHIM

    Lilongwe, Malawi – April 6th, 2025.
    by
    Moses Nyambalo Phiri in collaboration with Dr. Trude Arnesen and Settie Kanyanda.

    The Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) recently welcomed Dr. Guri Rørtveit, Director General of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), for a significant visit aimed at strengthening the enduring partnership between the two institutions.

    During her meeting with PHIM Director, Dr. Matthew Kagoli and his team, Dr. Rørtveit expressed admiration for the vital public health work being conducted in Malawi. “I am impressed to see the important work that is being done at PHIM and the longstanding collaboration between our two institutions,” stated Dr. Rørtveit.

    Meetings with leadership and employees at the Public Health Institute of Malawi.

    Throughout the meetings, Dr. Kagoli and the PHIM leadership presented an overview of the institute’s mandate and the specific public health challenges faced within Malawi. Dr. Rørtveit acknowledged the significant societal role PHIM fulfills, particularly in infectious disease control, despite being a relatively young institution operating with limited resources. “I can see that although PHIM is a young institution with limited resources, they play an important role in society, particularly regarding infectious diseases control,” Dr. Rørtveit said. She further expanded the universal importance of robust public health systems and the necessity of universal coverage for basic primary healthcare services to maximize the impact of available resources globally.

    The relationship between PHIM and NIPH dates back to 2007, when the International Association of the Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) initially fostered a connection by designating them as “sister institutes.” This enduring partnership is currently exemplified by the “Building public health Institutions and systems Stronger” (BIS) project. Supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and projected to continue for at least four more years, the BIS collaboration focuses on critical areas including Integrated Disease Surveillance, comprehensive capacity building (which notably includes support for a new competency-based medical specialty in public health), enhancing biosafety and biosecurity measures, and providing overall institutional support to PHIM, as detailed by NIPH’s Dr. Trude Arnesen during the visit.

    NIPH and PHIM teams gathering for a dinner.

    A standout achievement discussed was Malawi’s remarkable progress in public health outcomes, particularly the dramatic increase in life expectancy at birth. This metric has risen by over 20 years within just 25 years, from 45.5 years in the year 2000 to a projected 66.4 years in 2025. Dr. Rørtveit expressed deep admiration for this accomplishment, describing the increase in longevity as a “tremendous success, almost unparalleled in history and in the world.”

    The productive visit in Lilongwe, which included valuable interactions between leadership and staff from both institutes, Dr. Rørtveit and Dr. Kagoli traveled together to Maputo, Mozambique. There, they participated in the annual meeting of the International Association of Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), further demonstrating their joint commitment to advancing public health on both national and international stages.

  • Malawi Team Engages Students from Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda and the SPU’s sister universities in Kenya.

    Malawi Team Engages Students from Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda and the SPU’s sister universities in Kenya.

    Malawi team with the students from Rwanda and Kenya.

    The Malawi team alongside students mobilized from Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda and the SPU’s sister universities in Kenya. These students are participating in a significant educational initiative aimed at enhancing research skills.

    Dr. Evelyn Chitsa Banda giving her presentation.

    Over the course of two sessions, Dr. Chitsa Banda will be facilitating an important topic on research proposal writing. This collaborative effort underlines on the commitment to fostering academic excellence and promoting cross-border knowledge exchange.