In a continued demonstration of its commitment to community-centered health care, Partners In Health (PIH) Malawi accompanies Ministry of Health (MoH) to walk hand-in-hand with the people of Neno District at every step of the public health response, ensuring that they are not only informed but also actively protected from potential disease outbreaks that may have lasting effects on their lives.
From planning and logistical support to door-to-door outreach and vaccine hesitancy counseling, PIH remains embedded within communities, reinforcing the government’s efforts to safeguard children against polio and other diseases. This proactive, collaborative model embodies the principle that prevention must precede cure, and that no community should be left vulnerable to an illness that is entirely vaccine-preventable.
Recently, the Ministry of Health in Malawi, in collaboration with various stakeholders concluded the second phase of a four-day polio vaccination campaign, a crucial response to the detection of the poliovirus in Blantyre City in January 2026. The initiative marked a significant development in Malawi’s efforts to prevent the spread of polio, which had been absent in the country since 2022.
A health worker in Neno District holds a vial of the novel oral polio vaccine. PIH Malawi provides critical logistical and financial support to the Ministry of Health to ensure these life-saving vaccines reach communities in Neno and that the campaign is fully resourced.
Joseph Mizere
In Neno District, the campaign targeted 50411 children under the age of 10. However, throughout the period, the district has provided the polio vaccine to 55,896, achieving 111% coverage.
In her address, Gladys Mtalimanja Banda, the Deputy Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Coordinator for Neno District, explained that aside from a small number of exemptions based on religious beliefs, most households welcomed the vaccination campaign and have consented to have their children immunized.
“Our trained Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) conducted outreach activities in schools, private homes, health posts, markets, and other public gathering places throughout the period of the campaign,” she said. To avoid duplicate vaccination and facilitate systematic monitoring, the HSAs mark both the children and the households they have vaccinated and visited, thereby ensuring efficient tracking of the initiative. We have indeed passed the target, which speaks of the success of this initiative,” she continued.
Felesita Maseya, a 47-year-old mother of nine from Mwaiwathu Village in Traditional Authority Mlauli, acknowledged the commendable efforts to reach eligible children in their homes. She urged fellow parents to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated.
“I know polio is a deadly disease, and the vaccine will help my children survive should a polio pandemic occur. My children’s health comes first, and I will always ensure they receive the medicine and vaccine they need, especially when such vaccines are available within our reach,” explained Maseya.
She further encouraged other parents to seize this opportunity to protect their children, emphasizing that it is their responsibility. She advised taking preventive action before the disease strikes, noting that parents would ultimately bear the suffering if their children are affected by the illness. She also urged parents to always heed doctors’ instructions, as these guidelines are designed to keep communities safe.
Cold chain management is essential for the polio vaccination campaign. These vaccine carrier boxes, including one labeled “nOPV2 Vaccine,” ensure the oral polio vaccine remains effective as it is transported to remote areas.
Joseph Mizere
According to the Neno District Health Office Public Relations Officer, Carol Banda, they worked with thought leaders in the communities throughout the period. “We engaged faith leaders, especially those that have historically been cautious about vaccines. We gave them information about vaccines and we have seen most parents accepting their children to be vaccinated,” she said.
Banda added that Neno District has a dedicated committee that actively addresses vaccine hesitance by conducting door-to-door outreaches to parents who initially refuse vaccination. “This personalized approach has also been instrumental in reaching more children, ensuring higher vaccination coverage,” she continued.
Banda recommended all stakeholders that have supported the campaign including PIH Malawi for providing logistical support to ensure the vaccine reaches all children across the district.
The Community Health Nurse at PIH, Sungeni Misuli, stated that the organization provides financial support to complement government efforts, ensuring that the polio vaccination campaign is fully resourced, reaches all communities, and achieves high-quality implementation in line with national and global polio eradication goals.
Polio is a serious and highly infectious disease that can cause irreversible paralysis. It affects children mostly because of their low levels of personal hygiene. It spreads through the fecal-oral route. This means that the virus is transmitted when a person ingests contaminated food or water that has been contaminated with feces containing the poliovirus. It can also spread through contact with an infected person’s saliva or mucus, such as during close contact or through respiratory droplets. Proper sanitation, hygiene, and vaccination are key to preventing the spread of polio.
Let us end polio and ensure a healthy future together!