The Ministry of Health and Sanitation has renewed its commitment to eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), such as bilharzia and intestinal worms, by 2030, following the release of new nationwide research findings.
Speaking during the dissemination conference in Salima, Principal Secretary of Administration in the Ministry of Health, Beston Chisamile, said the research will guide targeted interventions across the country.
“These results inform us in terms of decision-making where we should target most, because the challenge is not across all districts in Malawi,” Chisamile said.
The study, conducted in 2025 with support from Unlimit Health and partners such as the World Health Organization and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, found significant progress in reducing soil-transmitted helminths. However, urogenital schistosomiasis cases have risen, partly linked to climate-related floods.
Director of Research and Innovation at Unlimit Health, Dr Fiona Fleming, noted: “For soil-transmitted helminths, they are very low and the Ministry is progressing towards elimination as a public health problem.”
In his remarks, Programme Manager for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths in the country, Michael Luhanga emphasised continued efforts through mass drug administration.
“We would want to eliminate schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths by 2030,” he said.
Malawi aims to reduce severe bilharzia infections to below one percent and intestinal worms to below two percent, marking elimination as a public health threat.
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