By Wadza Botomani
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is currently in Malawi conducting a capacity gap assessment on social and behavior change (SBC) in the country’s health sector.
The assessment, led by Dr. Priscilla Madzinga, Africa CDC’s Continental Social and Behavior Change Coordinator, aims to evaluate how frontline health workers promote positive health behaviors and identify opportunities to strengthen their skills.
Dr. Madzinga emphasized that while resources often pour in during public health emergencies, sustaining behavioral change remains a challenge once crises fade. “We want to understand how health workers implement promotive behaviors and how we can enhance their competencies for long-term impact,” she explained.
Dr. Kondwani Mamba, Deputy Director for Community and Promotive Health Services in Malawi, welcomed the initiative, stating that it presents an opportunity for Malawi to highlight its successes while addressing gaps in health promotion.
“This assessment will help us sustain positive health behaviors beyond emergencies, ensuring lasting improvements in public health,”Dr. Mamba said.
The findings from the exercise will guide strategies to reinforce health education, community engagement, and preventive health measures across Malawi and potentially other African nations.
The Africa CDC’s visit underscores its commitment to strengthening health systems resilience and ensuring that behavioral change interventions continue to benefit communities long after immediate health threats subside.
