Complications from spontaneous and induced abortions - primarily hemorrhage, infection and injury to the genital tract - remain a serious threat to the health of women in Malawi. These complications account for as much as 60% of acute gynaecological admissions into both public and private health facilities in Malawi (Kinoti et al, 1995).
Large-scale landscape restoration will create significant social, economic, and environmental benefits in Malawi that will include increased food, water, and livelihood security for many Malawians. Restoration of degraded and deforested land has an unparalleled potential to use nature-based solutions to address Malawi’s Vision 2020, Growth and Development Strategy III, and many additional components of current agricultural, land use, economic, social, and conservation policies.
More than 97% of Malawian households use charcoal or firewood for cooking and heating, making Malawi one of the most biomass energy-dependent countries in the world. In Malawi’s rapidly-growing urban centers, biomass energy remains the primary cooking and heating fuel for 88% of the population, and charcoal is now the primary source of fuel for the majority (54%) of urban households. Across rural Malawi, households continue to rely almost exclusively on firewood.
HIV prevalence in Malawi is declining overall with new infections reducing from 55,000 in 2011 to 34,000 in 2013. Implementation of effective prevention, treatment, care and support interventions in the national response need to take into consideration certain realities.
The first case of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was diagnosed in Malawi in 1985. Since then HIV prevalence increased significantly and reached a peak of 16.4% in 1999 among persons aged 15-49 years Thereafter, the prevalence has been declining steadily, reaching 10.6% in 2010. In 2010 females had a higher HIV prevalence than males (12.9% vs 8.1%), with the largest disparity being in the 15-19 year old age group (3.7% in women and 0.4%). In addition, HIV was more prevalent in urban communities (17.4%) compared to rural communities (9%).
The NTP Strategic Plan (2007-2011) successfully guided the TB control efforts in the past 5 years in Malawi. Following a WHO led Program review in 2011, a number of strengths and weaknesses were highlighted and these have assisted the development of this Strategic Plan (2012-16). This Strategic plan therefore builds on successes and also seeks to improve on weaknesses of the previous plan. Among others, the current Strategic plan recognizes the challenges in case detection which is below the WHO target of 70%.
Malawi is a landlocked country with a population of nearly 17 million people – which is estimated to surpass 20 million in the next five years. Malawi has 28 administrative districts, which are further divided into traditional authorities (TA) and villages, the smallest administrative unit. Malawi’s economy has expanded over the past 30 years, with real GDP growth estimated at 2.9% in 2016. It remains predominantly an agricultural country, with agriculture, forestry, and fishing contributing 28% of GDP.
The conduct of health or biomedical research in Malawi dates back to preindependence era. Since then, the need for health research has been growing in order to inform policy and health care service delivery.
This document is the first ever Strategic Plan for the National Planning Commission (NPC). NPC was established through an Act of Parliament in 2017 with the main mandate of coordinating the formulation of the country's medium- and long-term plans as well as overseeing their implementation.
This Strategic Plan provides the pathway for the Commission from 2021 to 2030, building on the achievements and experiences of the Commission in its first three years of existence, since its establishment in 2017.