Malawi’s Health System Resilience in Managing Climate- Induced Cholera Outbreaks

Malawi’s health system faces major challenges in managing cholera outbreaks, worsened by climate-induced extreme weather events (EWEs) like tropical cyclone-related floods (TCRFs). These disasters amplify existing vulnerabilities, including poor infrastructure and limited resources. The March 2022 o...

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Main Author: Lydia Nyimba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Adventist University of Africa 2025-06-01
Series:Pan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.aua.ke/ajhes/article/view/828
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author Lydia Nyimba
author_facet Lydia Nyimba
author_sort Lydia Nyimba
collection DOAJ
description Malawi’s health system faces major challenges in managing cholera outbreaks, worsened by climate-induced extreme weather events (EWEs) like tropical cyclone-related floods (TCRFs). These disasters amplify existing vulnerabilities, including poor infrastructure and limited resources. The March 2022 outbreak, the most severe in two decades, impacted all 29 districts, with a case fatality rate three times the anticipated threshold of 1%. This paper examines Malawi’s health system’s resilience using a structured literature review approach guided by the WHO Operational Framework for Building Climate-Resilient Health Systems. Through secondary data analysis, case studies, and comparative assessments, it identifies key structural and operational weaknesses. It also explores the role of intersectoral collaboration and community engagement, highlighting initiatives like the Tipewe Cholera Campaign. Drawing on international best practices, the study presents evidence-based recommendations to strengthen governance, health infrastructure, workforce distribution, financing, early warning systems, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure. These measures aim to build a climate-resilient health system capable of effectively managing future outbreaks.
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publisher Adventist University of Africa
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spelling doaj-art-ea47823abdb7452385188cc87ee2529f2025-08-20T03:28:00ZengAdventist University of AfricaPan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science2789-61962789-620X2025-06-014112214210.56893/ajhes2025v04i01.08795Malawi’s Health System Resilience in Managing Climate- Induced Cholera OutbreaksLydia Nyimba0University of Pretoria, South AfricaMalawi’s health system faces major challenges in managing cholera outbreaks, worsened by climate-induced extreme weather events (EWEs) like tropical cyclone-related floods (TCRFs). These disasters amplify existing vulnerabilities, including poor infrastructure and limited resources. The March 2022 outbreak, the most severe in two decades, impacted all 29 districts, with a case fatality rate three times the anticipated threshold of 1%. This paper examines Malawi’s health system’s resilience using a structured literature review approach guided by the WHO Operational Framework for Building Climate-Resilient Health Systems. Through secondary data analysis, case studies, and comparative assessments, it identifies key structural and operational weaknesses. It also explores the role of intersectoral collaboration and community engagement, highlighting initiatives like the Tipewe Cholera Campaign. Drawing on international best practices, the study presents evidence-based recommendations to strengthen governance, health infrastructure, workforce distribution, financing, early warning systems, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure. These measures aim to build a climate-resilient health system capable of effectively managing future outbreaks.https://journals.aua.ke/ajhes/article/view/828health systemclimate-resilientclimate-inducedcholera outbreakmalawi
spellingShingle Lydia Nyimba
Malawi’s Health System Resilience in Managing Climate- Induced Cholera Outbreaks
Pan-African Journal of Health and Environmental Science
health system
climate-resilient
climate-induced
cholera outbreak
malawi
title Malawi’s Health System Resilience in Managing Climate- Induced Cholera Outbreaks
title_full Malawi’s Health System Resilience in Managing Climate- Induced Cholera Outbreaks
title_fullStr Malawi’s Health System Resilience in Managing Climate- Induced Cholera Outbreaks
title_full_unstemmed Malawi’s Health System Resilience in Managing Climate- Induced Cholera Outbreaks
title_short Malawi’s Health System Resilience in Managing Climate- Induced Cholera Outbreaks
title_sort malawi s health system resilience in managing climate induced cholera outbreaks
topic health system
climate-resilient
climate-induced
cholera outbreak
malawi
url https://journals.aua.ke/ajhes/article/view/828
work_keys_str_mv AT lydianyimba malawishealthsystemresilienceinmanagingclimateinducedcholeraoutbreaks