MALAWI TAKES BOLD STEP TOWARDS PANDEMIC READINESS WITH GENOMIC SURVEILLANCE STRATEGY

The national multi-pathogen genomic surveillance strategy unvailed to strengthen Malawi’s pandemic preparedness and health resilience by 2030.

Malawi Healthcare system Disease control Africa National multi-pathogen genomic surveillance strategy Pandemic prevention.
Malawi unveils national multi-pathogen genomic surveillance strategy
Malawi unveils national multi-pathogen genomic surveillance strategy


In a decisive move to future-proof its public health system, Malawi has unveiled a bold and forward-looking national multi-pathogen genomic surveillance strategy, becoming the second country in Africa, after Zambia, to implement such a strategy.

The ambitious roadmap, developed in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) under the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative, signals Malawi’s rising leadership in genomic science and its application to real-time disease detection and response.

Unveiled by the Ministry of Health, the strategy integrates genomic sequencing into the national health framework, enabling early detection, rapid tracking, and informed response to infectious disease threats, including high-risk pathogens such as Mpox, Marburg virus, Cholera, and the emerging concern of Disease X.

“We are building a system that gives us the power to detect and respond before outbreaks spiral out of control,” said Samson Mndolo, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health. “We’ve updated our approach to ensure Malawi remains ahead in applying genomics to health.”

The strategy, which extends through 2030, draws lessons from Zambia’s 2023 genomic surveillance framework and aligns with the Africa CDC’s broader continental policy. A central feature is the creation of a National Genomics Committee, incorporating expertise from public health institutions, private laboratories, and academia, guided by a steering and advisory group for policy alignment and technical oversight.

Lul Riek of Africa CDC praised the move as transformative: “This moment marks the dawn of a new era, where science, innovation, and determination converge to build a stronger, more resilient health system for all starting from Malawi by leveraging genomic sequencing power to identify and track pathogens enabling early detection, tracking and characterisation of pathogens.” 

Malawi is among 16 African countries working closely with the Africa CDC to craft genomic strategies that place innovation, data, and precision medicine at the core of pandemic prevention and control. The national plan also strengthens efforts in antimicrobial resistance surveillance and personalized medicine.

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