Health Secretary urges stronger support for Environmental Health

Malawi’s Secretary for Health, Samson Mndolo, has emphasized the critical role of District Environmental Health Offices (DEHOs), in preventing disease outbreaks, pleading for greater investment and support amid mounting public health challenges.

Speaking at a review meeting in Salima District, on Monday, Mndolo said the gathering aimed at assessing progress made in the past year, sharing lessons learned, and identifying priority areas for improvement, especially with the recent Mpox outbreak.

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“This meeting is vital in allowing us to take stock of the work done by our frontline environmental health teams,” Mndolo said.

“DEHOs are at the forefront of preventing and responding to public health threats. Strengthening their capacity is not just a necessity, it’s a national priority.” he said.

Chief Preventive Officer for Mangochi District, Chimwemwe Jella, highlighted that while progress has been made in several thematic areas of environmental health, many challenges persist.

“These diseases continue to strain our already limited resources, the population keeps growing, but the number of healthcare workers, especially Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs), has not kept pace. This imbalance affects the delivery of essential preventive services.” he said.

Jella stressed the importance of recruiting more HSAs to bridge the gap between population needs and service delivery, especially in rural and underserved areas.

A significant blow has come from recent funding cuts by the United States government, which had been a major supporter of Malawi’s public health initiatives.

“These funding cuts have a ripple effect across our programs, we urge both domestic and international partners to continue supporting our health systems. Without their assistance, we risk reversing the gains we have made in disease prevention and response,” he added.

The meeting was supported by World Health Organization. Participants shared best practices and strategies for integrating community involvement, improving surveillance systems, and bolstering emergency response mechanisms.