HISP University of Malawi

09/03/2026

check out Our latest published article https://buff.ly/1W4zI2R

The Ministry of Health, with support from GIZ and HISP UNIMA, will integrate climate and health data in the national HMIS and One Health Surveillance Platforms to enable early warning and response.

24/07/2025

Strengthening Collaboration through One Health

This year, Hisp University of Malawi, participated in the Stakeholders Meeting held at Ufulu Gardens, Lilongwe.

The meeting was hosted by Public Health Institute of Malawi with collaboration from Department of Animal and Health Livestock, and Environmental Affairs Department.

This meeting brought together key stakeholders to foster collaboration across sectors; Health, Environment, and Agriculture, under the One Health framework.

Our team showcased innovative climate-health initiatives, including:
🔹 The DHIS2 Climate App (CHAP)
🔹 A new climate data portal
Both tools emphasize data interoperability and support climate-informed decision-making across sectors.

18/07/2025

Empowering Community Health through Data.

From 24th to 26th June, HISP Unima joined hands with Last Mile Health and the Ministry of Health in Mponela for the iCHIS CHW Indicator Analytics Configuration workshop.

Our goal? To support the configuration of Community Health Worker (CHW) level analytics and ensure a smooth deployment to the Android platform—making critical health data more accessible and actionable at the last mile.

This collaboration reflects our continued commitment to strengthening Malawi's digital health systems and ensuring that no one is left behind.

16/06/2025

"What if we could see disease coming before it arrived?"

This question is the driving force behind what EWARS is intended to do—predict diseases based on climate data and environmental factors. In pursuit of this goal, HISP UNIMA and other stakeholders met at Matawale Health Centre from 26 to 30 May 2025 and together, we piloted the Early Warning and Alert Response System (EWARS)—a groundbreaking platform that uses climate data to predict health risks.

With support from World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry Of Health - Malawi, Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, and HISP University of Malawi, this initiative trained facility-level staff to recognize how shifting weather patterns can signal disease threats like malaria and cholera.

What made this experience even more impactful was the practical orientation: hands-on training, and a real sense that the digital transformation of health is not a future goal—it’s happening now, and Malawi, through HispUnima, is part of this initiative.
This pilot was not just about learning new tools. It was about preparing our communities for a safer, healthier future.

13/06/2025

Last week, HISP Centre at University of Oslo hosted the DHIS2 2025 Climate & Health Conference & Workshop, bringing together representatives from all 10 pilot countries to promote the integration of climate and health data systems.

HISP University of Malawi, represented by Dr. Tiwonge Manda, was proud to be part of this important event focused on building climate-resilient health systems. The workshop provided a valuable space for collaboration—sharing knowledge, tools, and experiences on how DHIS2 can be used to monitor, analyze, and respond to climate-related health risks.

Together with partners and stakeholders from our Wellcome-funded project, we shared updates and lessons learned on integrating climate data into DHIS2. From tackling data challenges to showcasing innovative solutions, the event was a powerful exchange of ideas, highlighting the importance of working together to create more resilient health systems in the face of climate change.

23/05/2025

From Weather to Wellness: A Collaborative Step Forward

Earlier this month, the EWARS local team in collaboration with HISP University of Malawi had the opportunity to engage with Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) to discuss the ex*****on of the Memorandum of Understanding and how best we can integrate climate data to support health surveillance especially in the face of climate-related health challenges.

Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services shared updates on the ongoing M-CLIMES project, aimed at strengthening rural communities' resilience to climate change. Together, we also explored ways on how to integrate local data into EWARS for greater achievements.

The team highlighted the importance of expanding DHIS2 to include other diseases like cholera and diarrhea. There is a need for conducting pilot visits to gain a deeper understanding on the ground.

19/05/2025

Boosting Malawi’s Health Surveillance System

The eIDSR EBS Configurations Meeting, held from May5-9, 2025, at Chikho Hotel in Mponela, marked a key milestone in strengthening Malawi's Public health surveillance system.

Jointly chaired by DHD and Community Health, the meeting brought together key stakeholders, including HISP University of Malawi team, who provided technical support in the system configuration, as well as monitoring and evaluation.

The key outcomes from this meeting included better alignment of iCHIS with the national OHSP tool for more accurate and reliable data, faster detection of abnormal health patterns, and improved data quality through clear and resolution of reporting issues.

These improvements are expected to significantly boost Malawi's capacity to detect and respond to public health threats.

24/01/2025

Empowering Communities Through Digital Literacy

We had an incredible time conducting a Digital Literacy Community Outreach Program at Namikhate Primary School in Zomba.
During the program, participants learned:
- Basic ICT fundamentals
- Understanding digital devices
- How to use a keypad and smartphones, including WhatsApp installation and usage
- An introduction to Microsoft Word

At the end of the session, the participants were awarded certificates of attendance, recognizing their commitment.

Together, we are bridging the digital gap and equipping communities with skills for the digital age.

10/01/2025

Inter-Ministerial Senior Management Team Sets A Date with ICHIS

On December 13-14, senior management personnel from Ministry Of Health - Malawi, CARE International, Local Government and Natural Resources gathered in Mangochi to discuss the FP2030 vision and to appriciate iCHIS in action.

The first day featured a multistakeholder meeting at at Nkopola Lodge, led by Dr Doreen Alli, The Deputy Director of the Reproductive Health Division in the Ministry Of Health. The discussions around FP2030 focused on reducing fertility rates and improving access to family planning services in the country.

On iCHIS updates, Mr. Precious Phiri, the Deputy Director Of Community Health Services at the Ministry Of Health presented iCHIS progress. He highlighted iCHIS achievements, for example, its ability to support real-time data and improve decision-making. He further explained the future plans for iCHIS. A panel discussion showcased how the system is transforming record-keeping and service delivery in different communities.

The second day featured a field visit at Nkali Health Post in Mangochi where stakeholders witnessed a practical demonstration on how HSAs utilize iCHIS by engaging the surrounding communities and delivering care at village clinics. From reproductive health to childhood illness care and antenatal care services to expectant mothers, iCHIS demonstrated its power to improve lives.