The Ministry of Health has launched a five-year, $60 million health emergency preparedness, response and resilience program aimed at strengthening Malawi’s ability to deal with public health threats and climate-sensitive diseases.
Speaking at the launch event held at Capital Hill, Lilongwe, Minister Helsukun Bondkanddo Chiponda described the initiative as a timely and transformative intervention. She said it will arrive at a pivotal moment as Malawi rethinks emergency response in the face of increasingly frequent health crises and growing impacts of climate change.
“The program underscores the urgent need to strengthen our health systems to ensure resilience and maintain the benefits achieved at our development partners,” Chiponda said.
She said while the country is improving public health leadership and coordination, there are still significant gaps in emergency preparedness. These include sample transport and diagnostic challenges, real-time surveillance systems, emergency funding, and effective risk communication.
Chiponda also emphasizes the need to address sustained gender disparities in Malawi’s health sector, and continues to undermine emergency response capabilities.
“Women in Malawi have less access to essential health services and carry a greater burden of illness than men,” she said. “We must close these gaps, improve the quality of healthcare in emergencies and ensure basic services reach everyone.”
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In his remarks, Daniel Duritzky, director of regional practice at the World Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to improving the delivery of health services in Malawi. He said the new program is designed to expand access to innovative technologies that improve healthcare across the country.
“This project will help address outbreaks such as cholera and other pandemics, strengthen laboratory capabilities and support the delivery of health services at all levels,” Dulitzky said.
The Health Emergency Preparation, Response and Resilience Program is a multi-sector climate-focused initiative aimed at building technical, financial and HR capabilities across Malawi’s healthcare system. Integrate climate-smart, gender-based strategies to ensure a more comprehensive and resilient approach to future health emergencies.
The five-year programme, funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Health, is expected to play a key role in saving lives, preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring that Malawi is well prepared for future health challenges.
