By Shaffie A Mtambo
The Ministry of Health has taken a proactive step in engaging media practitioners to raise awareness about filovirus diseases, including Ebola, Mpox, and Marburg.
The meeting held at Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre ,on Wednesday March,26,2025
This move comes as the country remains on high alert due to outbreaks in neighboring countries like Tanzania, which has been affected by Marburg disease.
According to Deputy Director for Community and Promotive Healthy Service, Dr. Kondwani Mamba, the media plays a crucial role in disseminating information to the public.
By engaging with media practitioners, the Ministry aims to ensure that accurate information about filovirus diseases is shared with the public, promoting awareness and prevention.
The media engagement, which was attended by various media outlets, including The Nation, Malawi News Agency, and Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, provided journalists with valuable knowledge about filovirus diseases.
Wisdom Chirombo, a reporter at The Nation newspaper, described the engagement as “necessary and insightful”.
Filovirus diseases are highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with an infected person or animal.
 Symptoms include vomiting, bleeding, severe watery diarrhea, and cramping.
The Ministry of Health has advised the public to take preventive measures and to consult health personnel immediately if they exhibit any of these symptoms.
