Update: Following earlier reports of rising cholera cases across Southern Africa, Malawi has recorded a 62 percent decline in new infections in recent weeks, according to a March 12 report by MBC Online. Ministry of Health spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe attributed the drop to a vaccination campaign rolled out across most districts. During a press briefing by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, officials also announced that Malawi has fully administered its supply of Mpox vaccines provided by the United States government and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization. Chikumbe stated that Mpox cases have decreased significantly, with several days passing without any new confirmed infections.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health partnered with the Malawi Health Equity Network and the Kidney Foundation Malawi to mark World Kidney Day on March 12. According to AfricaBrief, health authorities warned that chronic kidney disease is a growing public health threat in the country. Treatment options remain limited, with specialized dialysis services mainly available at Kamuzu Central Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, which currently serve over 500 patients. Health experts urged the public to adopt preventive measures, noting that the condition often progresses for years without noticeable symptoms.
In a separate health initiative, Kamuzu Central Hospital and the Baylor Foundation Malawi have launched a pediatric cancer awareness campaign to improve early detection, AfricaBrief reports. Started in the Mzimba District, the campaign aims to educate communities on early warning signs and dispel cultural misconceptions that delay treatment. Medical officials estimate that Malawi should record around 1,500 new childhood cancer cases annually, yet only about 500 are identified each year.
Additionally, medical research from Malawi took centre stage at the University of North Carolina Global Health Scholars Symposium on March 11. According to the university, scholars presented 18 projects focused on the local health sector. The research covered topics such as community-based rehabilitation for mental health patients, strategies for HIV prevention, and the adaptation of medical care systems following the COVID-19 pandemic.