Malawi has launched its second cohort of the AVoHC Surge emergency responder training in Lilongwe to improve national readiness for public health crises, according to the World Health Organization. The initiative includes 104 participants from multiple sectors, drawing staff from the Ministry of Health, the Malawi Defence Force, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences.
The 27-day training covers rapid response operations, emergency management, and cluster coordination. Backed by the Pandemic Fund, the World Bank, and the WHO, the program is designed to build a capable workforce ready for immediate deployment when disease outbreaks or disasters occur.
Speaking at the launch, Secretary for Health Administration Bestone Chisamile stressed the need for better preparation. He noted that Malawi continues to face overlapping health threats from cholera, mpox, measles, and polio, as well as climate-related shocks like floods, which require swift coordination across human, animal, and environmental health sectors.