Malawi Adventist University

Diverse salmonellae have the potential to cause disease and may be carried asymptomatically within the intestine of many vertebrate species. The relative contribution of human, animal, and environmental hosts to the transmission of Salmonella is unknown within and between households in low-income settings, especially where humans and animals may live in close contact and sanitary infrastructure is often inadequate. Between November 2018 and December 2019, we isolated Salmonella spp. from thirty households in urban and rural locations in Malawi, sampling at three time points from the stool of humans, animals, and their household environment. Using whole genome sequencing and fine-resolution bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses we found evidence of sharing of Salmonella species and strains between humans, animals and the environment, both within and between households. The intricate web of interconnected salmonellae within this ecosystem underscores the importance of adopting a multi-faceted ‘One Health’ strategy when considering control of Salmonella in low-intensity agricultural systems.

Chickpea is a popular high-protein and high-fiber food but their potential is underutilized in Malawi due to a lack of improved varieties and a knowledge gap. However, Malawi has potential environments for chickpea cultivation, driven by new market demands and the need for more protein. Furthermore, smallholder farmers can easily take up the crop as the management strategies are similar to other legume crops with minor differences. Despite low yields in the country, chickpea has the potential to address malnutrition problems once school feeding programs integrate them. Chickpea production is aligned with the vision 2063 aspirations of adapting to climate change as the crop can save under different cropping systems. Research can plays a key role in the production and promotion of chickpeas to farmers in Malawi, through the provision of valuable information and guidance of chickpea management in conjunction with extension services. IT discipline can provides vital technology-based solutions to various challenges in chickpea production such as mobile apps, web-based platforms, and decision support systems, which can provide farmers with real-time information on weather, crop diseases, and market prices. The crop mirror all the potential in meeting Malawi’s development and strategic goals.

In April 2014, focus groups were conducted in two areas of Malawi: Karonga (in the Northern Region) and Blantyre (in the Southern Region; both are along the M1 highway), and a qualitative synthesis approach was used to identify themes. All governmental and nongovernmental first response organizations identified by key informants were contacted, and a checklist was used to identify the services they offer. Access to professional prehospital care in Malawi is almost nonexistent, aside from a few city fire departments and private ambulance services. Rapid transportation to a hospital is usually the primary goal of roadside care because of limited first aid knowledge and a lack of access to basic safety equipment. The key informants recommended: expanding community-based first aid training; emphasizing umunthu (shared humanity) to inspire bystander involvement in roadside care; empowering local leaders to coordinate on-site responses; improving emergency communication systems; equipping traffic police with road safety gear; and expanding access to ambulance services. Prehospital care in Malawi would be improved by the creation of a formal network of community leaders, police, commercial drivers, and other lay volunteers who are trained in basic first aid and are equipped to respond to crash sites to provide roadside care to trauma patients and prepare them for safe transport to hospitals. Chokotho L , Mulwafu W , Singini I , Njalale Y , Maliwichi-Senganimalunje L , Jacobsen KH . First responders and prehospital care for road traffic injuries in Malawi. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):14-19.