Tag: Mpox

  • PHIM Enhances Chitipa and Karonga Preparedness and response capability for Cholera, Mpox, and Marburg.

    PHIM Enhances Chitipa and Karonga Preparedness and response capability for Cholera, Mpox, and Marburg.

    Cholera, Mpox, and Marburg Training.

    Chitipa, Malawi – March 7th, 2025.
    by
    Moses Nyambalo Phiri in collaboration with Chriswell Nkoloma and Settie Kanyanda.

    In a proactive approach to enhance the country’s response to public health emergencies, the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM), with support from AMREF, conducted crucial training sessions in  Karonga and Chitipa districts. These sessions focused on cholera, Mpox, and Marburg.

    These activities aim to ensure that healthcare workers can effectively manage cases, strengthen surveillance and contact tracing, improve laboratory diagnostics, and educate communities on preventive measures for Mpox, Marburg, and Cholera.

    From May 6th to 7th, 2025, Public Health Emergency Management Committees and District Rapid Response Teams in the two districts were refreshed on their roles and responsibilities. Subsequently, from May 8th to 14th, frontline healthcare workers, including clinicians, nurses, health surveillance assistants, laboratory staff, and data clerks, received specialized training on sample collection, clinical case management, data reporting etc.

    Mr. Chriwell Nkoloma presenting on Mpox Global Overview and Malawi Situation to the Chitipa DRRT.

    Officers from the national level, comprising experts from various pillars such as Case Management, Surveillance, Laboratory, IPC, Vaccination, RCCE, and Points of Entry, facilitated the PHEMC and DRRT meetings. District-level staff then conducted further orientations for healthcare workers at the facility level, with participation from the Department of Animal Health and Livestock development personnel.

    The training of frontline health care workers was conducted in 5 sessions for Karonga and 4 sessions for Chitipa, with 181 and 125 participants, respectively.

    Hester Mkwinda Nyasulu, Amref Country Director – Malawi.

    “Karonga and Chitipa districts are the first ever districts to have their frontline health workers trained on Mpox and Marburg, so the future plan is to reach out to all the districts in Malawi with this training.” Remarks from Hester Mkwinda Nyasulu, Amref Country Director – Malawi.

  • Mpox Situation in Malawi

    Mpox Situation in Malawi

    MPOX – Malawi Situation.

    National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC), Lilongwe, Malawi –May 10th, 2025.
    by
    Moses Nyambalo Phiri in collaboration with Grace Funsani, Noel Khunga, Chriswell Nkoloma and Settie Kanyanda.

    As of May 10th, 2025, Malawi is responding to an Mpox outbreak, having confirmed six cases. The Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) is leading a collaborative effort across different sectors to control the virus’s spread.

    “The first case was recorded in Lilongwe district on April 16, 2025. Later additional cases were registered.  All the cases are males within the age range of 2 to 38 years: a 30-year-old from Phwetekere- Area 36, a 33-year-old from Kawale 2, 38 year-old from Chilinde, a 35 year-old from Area 36, Kandikole, an 18 year-old from Area 36, Tumbwe, Traditional Authority (TA) Tsabango, Lilongwe district, and a two year-old child from Michesi 1 village, TA Mponda, Mangochi district.Three cases from Lilongwe have recovered and have been discharged from clinical care, while the other three are still under clinical care . No death has been reported.”

    Grace Fusani – Mpox Incident Manager, PHIM.

    What response activities have so far been undertaken ?

    Cases
    Malawi Mpox Outbreak

    PHIM has activated its Incident Management System (IMS) for Mpox and is working with various sectors, including animal health, civic education, and disaster management, using One Health Approach

    Mpox Suspect in Lilongwe

    1. Surveillance.

    Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed to conduct contact tracing and investigate cases. Surveillance systems have been enhanced at the community level, health facilities, and points of entry (PoEs).

    The district team are being trained on Mpox through a collaborative effort involving Amref Health Africa, the US CDC, and the World Bank, which have provided the necessary resources. Initial training, supported by Amref Health Africa, has been conducted in the Chitipa and Karonga districts. This district level training will be extended to all districts to ensure comprehensive staff preparedness covering critical areas such as Mpox Etiology and Virology, Transmission Pathways, Prevention and Control Measures, and Clinical Management etc.

    Chitipa -Mpox District Training 7/May/2025.

    2. Case Management.

    Case management guidelines have been developed and distributed, and isolation facilities have been identified.

    Kamuzu Central Hospital – Toilets Supported by Amref
    Kamuzu Central Hospital – Isolation Unit Supported by WHO
    Kamuzu Central Hospital – Toilets Supported by Amref

    3. Labolatory.

    Samples from suspected cases are being tested using PCR, and genomic sequencing of the Mpox virus is underway.

    Mpox sample testing in the national laboratory

    Essential medicines and PPEs have been distributed to districts and Messages about Mpox prevention are being disseminated in local languages through various channels, including posters, social media, leaflets, and audio recordings. PHIM is working to address these challenges and will continue to provide updates on the situation.