By Burnett Munthali
A tuberculosis (TB) screening project implemented by Development Aid from People to People (DAPP), in partnership with World Vision Malawi, has identified 554 confirmed cases in Blantyre District over two years.
The cases were detected between July 2024 and June 2026 after the project screened 169,618 people under the Global Fund HIV/TB Epidemic Control Programme.
Presenting a progress report during a Blantyre District Executive Committee meeting, DAPP Project Lead Vanessa Nyanda said 330 cases were identified through house-to-house screening, while 224 were detected through 32 Community Sputum Collection Points.
Nyanda said 58 percent of those diagnosed were aged between two and 49, underscoring the importance of community-based screening in promoting early detection and treatment.
He said the project also trained 447 TB volunteers, including 10 tuberculosis survivors serving as community champions to promote awareness, screening and treatment.
Nyanda said to improve data management, the initiative distributed 82 tablets to support the transition from manual to digital data collection.
He said beyond healthcare, the project established 25 Village Savings and Loans groups, which have accumulated K3.5 million to support TB patients and that another 30 beneficiaries are engaged in backyard gardening to improve household food security.
However, Nyanda cited fuel shortages, frequent electricity blackouts and an incomplete District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) system as major challenges affecting implementation.
DAPP Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Florence Hiwa said arrangements are underway to transfer the savings groups to local stakeholders before the project ends in June 2027.
Meanwhile, World Vision Malawi, SOS Children’s Villages Malawi and Mary Care Organisation also presented progress reports on their interventions during the district meeting.
Blantyre District Director of Agriculture Services Edward Katunga commended the organisations for collaborating with the District Council to strengthen public service delivery and promote community development.
