Malawi commemorates World TB, Leprosy day

First Lady Monica Chakwera has called on more men to take a leading role in the fight against Tuberculosis (TB) and Leprosy to help Malawi achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2030 target.

Chakwera, also the TB and Leprosy champion for Malawi and Southern Africa, made the call at Mgona Ground in Lilongwe, where she presided over this year’s World TB and Leprosy Day commemorations.

The event was held under the theme: “Yes, We Can End TB. Commit, Invest, Deliver & Unite. Act to Eliminate Leprosy.”

While commending the Ministry of Health’s efforts, Chakwera noted that statistics indicate most men are lagging in seeking diagnosis compared to women.

“My plea goes to all men to be proactive and make history by going to hospitals for diagnosis as soon as possible. This will help reduce TB and Leprosy cases and ensure we meet the WHO 2030 target,” said Chakwera.

Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda highlighted that since 2021, the ministry has employed over 20,000 health workers and is set to recruit more in the 2025-2026 fiscal year as part of efforts to eliminate the two diseases.

“The move is expected to strengthen the fight against TB and Leprosy as we race against time to eradicate them. We are also recruiting more volunteers, especially in rural communities, to enhance case detection and treatment,” said Chiponda.

Meanwhile, WHO Country Representative Neema Kimambo has urged the Malawian government and its partners to intensify information dissemination on TB and Leprosy.

She reiterated WHO’s commitment to helping Malawi achieve its 2030 target.

“The WHO is working closely with the government, through the Ministry of Health and various partners, to ensure Malawi meets its 2030 targets as agreed years ago,” said Kimambo.

TB remains a major global health threat, causing more deaths than any other infectious disease. According to the WHO Global Health Report 2024, 11.7 million people contracted TB in 2023, with 1.25 million deaths.

In 2023, 18,310 TB cases were recorded in Malawi, 11,385 of which affected men and 1,244 of which affected children. The country’s treatment success rate improved slightly from 90% to 91%, while the mortality rate declined from 7% to 6%.

Regarding Leprosy, Malawi attained elimination status in 1994. However, in 2023, the country registered 404 new leprosy cases, translating to 0.2 cases per 10,000 people. Some districts reported more than one case per 10,000 people.

In 2024, 364 new leprosy cases were identified, bringing the total number of people on treatment to 665.

With only five years remaining until 2030, 2025 is seen as a critical year for Malawi to make significant progress in ending TB.

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