Advancing Health Research in Malawi and Beyond
The AMR and One Health research group focuses on finding solutions to the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance in low and Middle income Countries. Recognising the complexity of the drivers for antimicrobial resistance and the interlinkages between the human sector, animal sector and the environment, the group research activities embrace the principles of One-Health to generate Multi-disciplinary solutions to tackle AMR within low resource settings. The group research activities span across multiple areas such as exploring drivers for overuse and misuse of antibiotics across the human and animal health sector as well as investigating the environmental determinants of AMR in Low resource settings. The group strength lies in its collaborative multi-sectoral approach in the fight against the emerging threat of AMR.
The multi-disciplinary IDR focuses on tackling challenges associated with endemic and emerging infectious diseases in LMICS. Endemic diseases such as Malaria, HIV, TB e.t.c still cause significant health burden in LMICs despite decades of investment. This is further worsened by the growing burden of emerging infectious diseases such as the COVID 19 and many other viral Infections. This multi-displinary team focuses on exploring the disease determinants, preventive measures including new vaccines and treatment.
The dynamic SBS group focuses on evaluating the social and behavioural aspect of disease determinants as well as the effectiveness of various community engagement and behavioural change models in tackling the growing burden of disease in LMICs. The group also looks into the interplay between economy, culture and human conduct on disease propagation and prevention.
The NTD groups aim at finding solutions in tackling the persistent burden of neglected tropical diseases in the tropics such as Schistosomiasis, Trypanosomiasis, Snake Envenoming and many others. NTD programs are mostly underfunded and effective drugs and vaccines remain a big challenge worldwide. NTD affects a significant number of people and leads to catastrophic long term disabilities among the affected population. The research group aims at finding solutions for tackling the NTD burden in LMICs.
Over the years the world has seen a growing burden of emerging pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks. This is further worsened by the impact of climate change which most of the time leads to a dual burden of natural disasters and a surge of infectious diseases such as Cholera.. This calls for the country to strengthen the disease surveillance system in readiness for the growing burden of outbreaks. The PPC group focus is to work with national and district surveillance teams during the course of health emergencies as well as develop ways of handling health crisis and post-crisis recovery plans.
Achieving universal health coverage will remain as a dream if countries can not tackle the higher burden of maternal deaths and childhood mortality. No mother deserves to die during peripartum and no child deserves to die prematurely. In most LMICs maternal and childhood conditions contribute a significant percentage of the country's disease burden. This group focuses on finding solutions for tackling maternal and child health issues while taking into account country specific indicators for maternal and child health. The group research areas include but are not limited to finding solutions for improved early infant survival, addressing pregnancy and early childhood nutrition requirements and addressing the neglected burden of non-communicable diseases of peripartum including Mental Health.