PHIM Responsive Header
PHIM Logo

Tag: Lab

  • Malawi Association Of Medical Labolatory Scientist 8th Annual General Conference.

    Malawi Association Of Medical Labolatory Scientist 8th Annual General Conference.

    MAMLS ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE.

    Blantyre, Malawi –May 8th , 2025.
    by
    Moses Nyambalo Phiri in collaboration with Happy Abraham Manda, Henry Limula and Settie Kanyanda.

    On May 8, 2025, the Malawi Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (MAMLS) convened its 8th Annual General Conference at the Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre. The central theme of this year’s conference was “Enhancing Access to Diagnostics for All Malawians.“

    Conference Highlights and Key Discussions
    The conference emphasized the critical need for increased innovation and investment in diagnostic services, with a strong focus on expanding access to rural and underserved areas. MAMLS advocated for bringing high quality laboratory services closer to communities to ensure accurate diagnoses and improve healthcare delivery across Malawi. The conference was officially opened by Mr. Joseph Bitilinyu Bangoh, Deputy Director of the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM), responsible for the National Public Health Laboratories (NPHL).

    About MAMLS
    Founded on February 11, 1998, MAMLS is a non-profit association dedicated to promoting and safeguarding the interests of medical laboratory science professionals and patients in Malawi. The organization operates independently, free from political, religious, ethnic, or sub regional influences. MAMLS plays a vital role in promoting cooperation among medical laboratory scientists, standardizing professional practices, and facilitating capacity development, all aimed at improving the quality of medical laboratory services, training, and education in the country.

    MAMLS Technical Team

    PHIM’s Participation and Presentations
    The Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) was a key participant in the conference. Dr. Godfrey Kadewere, former Director of Health Technical Services, and Mr. Joseph Bitilinyu Bangoh of PHIM both delivered speeches encouraging laboratory personnel to collaborate in disease diagnostics and surveillance. Mr. Bangoh specifically urged laboratory professionals to be proactive during disease outbreaks, citing the recent Mpox pandemic in Malawi as an example.

    Mrs. Dorothy Donata Moyo Kalata from the NPHL delivered a presentation detailing PHIM’s development, vision, and mission, as well as the current activities of the NPHL. She highlighted the NPHL’s comprehensive functions, asserting that Malawi will soon no longer need to send samples abroad for testing.

    Mr. J.B. Bango.
    Mrs. Dorothy Donata Moyo Kalata
    Dr. Godfrey Kadewere (centre)

    Remarks from MAMLS Leadership and Other Dignitaries
    Mr. Confidence Banda, President of MAMLS, echoed the sentiments of previous speakers, emphasizing the laboratory’s foundational role in various health pillars and its indispensable contribution to disease surveillance. He also acknowledged the presence of Professor Kondwani Jambo, the keynote speaker, as an inspiring example for the laboratory science community.

    Other notable attendees included Mr. Reuben Mwenda, former Deputy Director of Health Technical Services, and representatives from organizations supporting laboratory services in Malawi, such as the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Malawi University of Maryland School of Medicine – Ciheb, and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES).

    Mr Reuben Mwenda and Dr Godfrey Kadewere
    Professor Kondwani Jambo
    MAMLS president, Mr. Confidence Banda.

    Exhibitions and Networking
    The conference provided a dynamic environment for participants to interact and exchange ideas. Companies supplying laboratory products in Malawi also had the opportunity to exhibit their offerings, fostering connections within the industry.

    Special Thanks to:

    Mr. Happy Abraham Manda, Content Creator, NPHL

    Mr. Henry Stanley Limula, Content Reviewer, NPHL

    Mr. Settiel Kanyanda, Content Reviewer, PHIM

  • WHO Strengthens Malawi’s Disease Surveillance with Key Donation.

    WHO Strengthens Malawi’s Disease Surveillance with Key Donation.

    THE WHO CONTRIBUTES TO NPHL

    NPHL, Lilongwe, Malawi – May 15th, 2025.
    by
    Moses Nyambalo Phiri in collaboration with Happy Abraham Manda, Mr. Henry Limula and Settie Kanyanda.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO), with support from UK Aid (UKAID), has made a significant donation delivery of essential laboratory items to the National Public Health Laboratories (NPHL) to the National Public Health Laboratory, PHIM. This timely contribution will aid Malawi’s capacity to monitor and respond to various public health threats, including the ongoing Mpox outbreak

    The NPHRL plays a pivotal role in Malawi’s health surveillance systems, tracking a range of diseases. Currently, a key focus is the surveillance of Mpox, a viral disease that has affected several African nations, with Malawi reporting six confirmed cases by May 15th, 2025.

    NPHL receiving the donations.

    To ensure the safety of frontline health workers during critical activities such as outbreak investigations, sample collection, and the implementation of control measures, the WHO generously donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). The consignment included vital items such as gloves, aprons, and gumboots.

    THE WHO and NPHL Team

    Receiving the donations on behalf of the NPHRL, Mr. Joseph Bitilinyu Bangoh expressed his sincere appreciation to the WHO for their prompt response citing the current response activities NPHL – PHIM is undertaking to contain Mpox. He further acknowledged the WHO’s consistent support to PHIM during the Mpox pandemic and in the surveillance of other significant diseases, including conjunctivitis, cholera, and influenza.

    He earnestly appealed to the WHO to maintain their invaluable assistance, even in the face of potential financial constraints affecting international organizations. Dr. Nelly Yatich, representing the WHO during the donation, warmly assured the PHIM staff of the WHO’s unwavering commitment to supporting Malawi, particularly during health crises like the current Mpox outbreaks. She emphasized the WHO’s proactive approach in providing the necessary equipment swiftly to aid in the effective management of Mpox cases.

    Mr. Ishmael Bashir, Second from left.

    During the event, Mr. Bangoh also formally welcomed Mr. Ishmael Bashir, a resident delegated from the (WHO) to work at PHIM, NPHRL. He reiterated his gratitude to the WHO for this additional support, highlighting that Mr. Bashir’s presence will provide valuable insight into Malawi’s needs and facilitate targeted assistance.

    This has indicated the robust collaboration that exists between the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM). Their joint efforts are crucial for enhancing Malawi’s public health systems and protecting its citizens. This partnership is expected to continue with future collaborations.

    Special Thanks to:

    Mr. Happy Abraham Manda, Content Creator, NPHL

    Mr Henry Stanley Limula, Content Reviewer, NPHL

    Mr. Settiel Kanyanda, Content Reviewer, PHIM

  • Mpox Situation in Malawi.

    Mpox Situation in Malawi.

    Mpox Situation in Malawi – Comprehensive Analysis
    Mpox Issue 73 | Current Status

    Epidemiological
    Intelligence

    Surveillance Update: 20th January, 2026

    PUBLISHED BY

    Moses Nyambalo Phiri

    Executive Case Briefing

    On 18th January 2026, the Public Health Institute of Malawi confirmed a new case in Salima District involving an 18-year-old female. This diagnostic confirmation, occurring 12 days after the initial hospital presentation, underscores the vital importance of molecular validation in managing the current outbreak, which has now accumulated 148 confirmed cases.

    148

    National Total

    01

    New Salima Case

    Clinical presentation of suspected Mpox lesions
    Primary Symptom: Characteristic Cutaneous Lesions

    Fig A: Typical clinical presentation observed in recent Central Region cases.

    Operational Response & Data Insights

    District Sentinel Analysis

    The notification from Salima District hospital on January 6th, followed by PCR confirmation on the 18th, highlights a critical window for containment. The Salima District Rapid Response Team (DRRT) has prioritized contact tracing around this 18-year-old female, who represents a significant demographic shift as younger populations increasingly become points of entry for the virus in rural settings.

    Operationally, the focus is now on “Ring Surveillance.” By mapping the patient’s interactions within the 21-day incubation period, the DRRT is effectively creating a safety perimeter. This prevents the transition from a sporadic case to a localized cluster, which is essential given Salima’s role as a transit and tourism hub that could easily facilitate cross-district transmission.

    One Health Surveillance Matrix

    The activation of the Incident Management System (IMS) signifies a transition to high-alert status. This multisectoral One Health approach is critical because it integrates human clinical data with animal health monitoring. Understanding the zoonotic potential of Mpox in Malawi is key to identifying the environmental reservoirs that might be driving these persistent “sporadic” infections across different districts.

    Furthermore, the IMS structure allows for real-time resource reallocation. As shown in the surveillance matrix, deployment of functional Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) is not static; it follows the trajectory of new confirmations. The training of National Emergency Medical Teams ensures that the surge capacity is prepared for any sudden spikes in severity or volume that may arise as the virus moves through the lake-shore communities.

    Diagnostic Efficiency Trends

    Diagnostic integrity is the cornerstone of the Malawi Mpox response. The PCR-based testing of lesion swabs provides the definitive evidence needed to trigger public health interventions. While the turnaround time for the Salima case reflects the logistical challenges of sample transport from district to central labs, the successful confirmation demonstrates a robust end-to-end diagnostic pipeline that can handle highly infectious specimens.

    Looking forward, the focus is on reducing the “symptom-to-confirmation” latency. By empowering district-level human and animal health workers through advanced training, PHIM aims to improve early suspicion and immediate sample collection. This diagnostic intelligence ensures that clinical management, including isolation and symptomatic treatment, begins at the earliest possible stage, significantly improving patient outcomes and reducing secondary attack rates.

    Specialized Mpox Isolation Units

    Containment Strategy: Infrastructure & Resilience

    The strategic deployment of dedicated Mpox Isolation Units is a vital component of Malawi’s health system resilience. By physically separating Mpox management from general medical wards, PHIM effectively mitigates the risk of nosocomial transmission. These units are not merely physical structures; they represent a specialized clinical ecosystem equipped with advanced waste management protocols and high-frequency disinfection cycles, ensuring that healthcare workers remain protected while delivering intensive supportive care.

    Beyond the immediate benefit of containment, these facilities foster clinical excellence through specialization. Staff assigned to these units are trained in specific lesion care, pain management, and the identification of secondary bacterial infections. This concentrated expertise is particularly crucial for younger patients, such as the 18-year-old from Salima, ensuring they receive evidence-based care in a dignifying and safe environment that prioritizes both physical recovery and community protection.

    Macro-Level Data Analysis

    1. Cumulative Geographic Burden (n=148)

    The distribution of 148 laboratory-confirmed cases reveals a persistent, low-intensity spread that spans across multiple regions. While large urban centers initially dominated the statistics, the recent case in Salima demonstrates that the virus is successfully exploiting mobility corridors. This geographic burden analysis suggests that surveillance cannot be localized; rather, a nationwide “blanket” surveillance approach is necessary to capture infections in districts that may not have high healthcare-seeking behavior but are nonetheless at risk.

    Strategically, this data indicates that the 148 cases represent only the “tip of the iceberg.” For every confirmed case, there is a statistical likelihood of sub-clinical or asymptomatic cases within the community. Public health efforts are therefore prioritizing districts with high population density and frequent transit, using this geographic data to allocate diagnostic kits and protective equipment where they are most likely to encounter the next “sentinel” case.

    2. National Epicurve & Temporal Dynamics

    The national epicurve illustrates the temporal progression of the outbreak since April 2025. Unlike explosive outbreaks, Mpox in Malawi exhibits a “smoldering” pattern, with sporadic cases occurring regularly over several months. The confirmation of Case 148 in late January 2026 confirms that the transmission cycle has not been broken. This trend analysis is vital for predicting seasonal peaks and ensuring that the healthcare system is prepared for sustained engagement rather than a short-term emergency response.

    Mathematically, the presence of the Salima case on the tail end of this curve suggests that the virus remains endemic in certain reservoirs. The epicurve analysis informs our Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) strategies—shifting from high-volume general awareness to targeted, behavior-change messaging in districts showing new activity. Constant vigilance is required to ensure that this smoldering trend does not ignite into a large-scale resurgence as environmental and social conditions fluctuate.

    Preventative Clinical Directives

    Public Safety Protocols

    • Zero Contact: Avoid all skin-to-skin contact with individuals presenting unexplained rashes or blisters.
    • Sanitization: Mandatory hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers in all public transit hubs.
    • Immediate Reporting: Any individual with fever and rash must report to the nearest health facility within 24 hours.

    Surveillance Mandate

    Following the Salima case, PHIM has mandated enhanced surveillance for all district hospitals. Health workers are directed to treat all “Fever + Rash” presentations as suspected Mpox until PCR results prove otherwise. This high-index of suspicion is our primary defense against widespread community transmission.