Ahead of International Women's Day, the Women's Coalition Against Cancer (WOCACA) has urged stakeholders to prioritise women's access to quality healthcare and involve them in health policy decisions. In a statement released on March 7, WOCACA Executive Director Maud Mwakasungula highlighted that women in Malawi continue to face late diagnoses and limited treatment options for non-communicable diseases like breast and cervical cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. She stressed that patients often endure stigma and social isolation, calling for stronger commitments to gender justice in the medical sector, according to MBC Online.
In a new effort to combat the health impacts of extreme weather, African universities have partnered with the Wellcome Trust to launch a multi-million-pound science and policy consortium. Announced on March 5, the initiative will use an initial £40 million to address escalating climate-driven public health crises across Southern and Western Africa. According to Section27, the consortium will specifically focus on the health consequences of flooding in Malawi, aiming to co-develop locally led solutions that protect vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, and patients with chronic conditions.
Update: As officials formally transferred a K3.5 billion Chinese grant aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths in Nkhata Bay, Balaka, and Mwanza, the initiative is facing renewed scrutiny over Malawi's health oversight systems. An analysis published by the Center for Investigative Journalism Malawi on March 7 warned that the funds will test the country's public procurement environment. While the grant is intended to reach over 50,000 pregnant women and 39,000 newborns, the report cited historical audit records showing persistent supply chain weaknesses, including instances of donated medicines expiring in government warehouses due to poor coordination.