Malawi's Kamuzu Central Hospital laboratory has officially received full accreditation from the World Health Organization for its measles and rubella surveillance capabilities. According to a March 19 report from the World Health Organization, the facility successfully passed an on-site assessment to serve as the national hub for confirming cases, guiding vaccination campaigns, and validating suspected disease outbreaks. Health officials state that the new certification for the 2025-2026 period will allow the country to detect and confirm infections faster to prevent regional outbreaks.
Update: Following earlier reports of a sharp decline in cholera cases, the Ministry of Health has completed a targeted oral cholera vaccination campaign in four priority districts to maintain control of the disease. A March 17 report by the World Health Organization details that the drive distributed 522,000 vaccine doses and surpassed its 95 percent coverage target. The campaign was launched as authorities recorded 174 confirmed cases and four deaths as of March 9, confirming a much milder season compared to previous years.
In a separate development, a joint initiative by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Gender, and global health partners is successfully lowering the number of children missing routine immunisations. The World Health Organization reports that authorities trained over 1,260 community leaders and 820 health workers to address cultural barriers and myths surrounding vaccines. Through these community dialogues, the proportion of children in Malawi who have never received a single vaccine fell from 11 percent in 2022 to just 5.9 percent.