Malawi Charts Future After Polio Victory With National Health Resilience Plan

As Malawi commemorates one year since successfully halting the spread of reimported wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), the nation is taking bold steps to ensure this achievement endures for generations to come. Marking this pivotal moment, a National Polio Transition Planning meeting was held on 24 April 2025, drawing health leaders, government officials, international partners, and civil society organizations to strategize the next chapter in public health resilience.

The transition from a focused polio eradication initiative to a broader, integrated health approach reflects Malawi’s commitment to safeguarding public health infrastructure and achieving universal health coverage (UHC).

From Emergency to Enduring Health System Strength

The resources mobilized during Malawi’s recent polio response—ranging from trained health personnel and surveillance officers to emergency response mechanisms and community engagement networks—have proven invaluable beyond polio control. The new Polio Transition Plan, guided by the Polio Transition Strategic Framework, is designed to preserve and integrate these vital assets into Malawi’s national health system.

“Transitioning from GPEI [Global Polio Eradication Initiative] support means we must strengthen our ability to manage core functions nationally. This is vital to keep Malawi polio-free and improve our capacity to detect and respond to other vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Dr. Patrick Wataya Chirwa, Chair of the National Certification Committee.

The plan emphasizes national ownership of polio-related functions such as:

• Integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR)

• Routine immunization

• Outbreak preparedness and response

• Health information systems strengthening

A Cautionary Tale with a Triumphant Turnaround

While Malawi and the broader African Region were certified free of indigenous wild poliovirus in May 2020, the country faced a major public health setback in 2022 when a case of WPV1 was reimported from Southern Asia. The detection underscored the global nature of polio threats and the continued need for vigilance.

In response, Malawi launched an aggressive containment campaign involving mass vaccination drives, intensified case detection, and cross-border surveillance. The country was declared polio-free again by May 2024, and in January 2025, the GPEI reclassified Malawi as low-risk on its global polio watchlist.

Looking Ahead: Bridging Gaps and Sustaining Gains

Despite this success, the winding down of GPEI support poses new challenges. Malawi now faces funding and workforce gaps that could jeopardize the durability of its health gains if not addressed proactively.

To bridge these gaps, the National Polio Transition Plan outlines several key strategies:

• Aligning polio infrastructure with the Ministry of Health’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)

• Expanding digital surveillance tools and training for local health workers

• Mobilizing domestic and donor financing for critical operational needs

• Strengthening linkages between polio assets and other public health areas, such as maternal and child health, COVID-19 response, and epidemic preparedness

“We must integrate service delivery and strengthen surveillance across the board—not just for polio, but for all vaccine-preventable diseases,” emphasized Sarah Wanyoike, WHO AFRO’s Eastern and Southern Africa inter-country support team lead.

Multisectoral Collaboration: A Whole-of-Government and Society Approach

The plan is not solely a health sector undertaking. It calls for a cross-cutting, multisectoral response involving ministries, local governments, civil society, academia, and development partners.

“Malawi’s success will depend on strong coordination between the Ministry of Health, EPI, the Public Health Institute of Malawi, district councils, health partners, NGOs, and communities themselves,” said Dr. Neema Kimambo, WHO Representative to Malawi.

Key components of the plan include:

• One Health integration, linking human, animal, and environmental health

• Community engagement platforms to support vaccine confidence and uptake

• Emergency preparedness networks that can pivot rapidly during future outbreaks

• Accountability and monitoring frameworks to track progress

Global Support and Local Ownership

The World Health Organization (WHO), GPEI, UNICEF, and other partners have pledged continued technical and financial support for the transition process. However, the emphasis is increasingly on empowering national institutions to take full control of immunization and disease surveillance functions.

Malawi’s approach is being watched closely by other countries transitioning from GPEI support. The National Polio Transition Plan is viewed as a model blueprint for maintaining hard-won eradication successes while advancing broader health system transformation.

Toward a Healthier Future

As Malawi moves beyond emergency response into a phase of long-term health system strengthening, the goal is clear: to remain polio-free, resilient to emerging health threats, and capable of delivering equitable health services to every community.

In doing so, Malawi not only safeguards its own people but also contributes to the global goal of a polio-free world—a legacy that will benefit children and families for generations to come.