By Wendy Mkandawire
The ministry of health says malawi has recorded a 46 percent drop in cases from 197 cases in 2015 to 107 cases in 2025, during the same period,TB mortality dropped from 72 percent from 68 deaths bringing Malawi closer to achieving the global End TB Targets.
Speaking during the GC 8 National dialogue Tuberculosis and Leprosy Elimination, on Thursday 23 July 2026, Program Manager Dr.Kuzani Mbendera said TB treatment coverage has increased from 47 in 2015 to 77 percent,while 18,378 new recurrent TB cases were notified in 2025.
According to Mbendera this is significant progress in the fight against tuberculosis TB,with new data showing substantial declines in both TB incidence and mortality over the past decade, reflecting the impact of sustained government leadership, improved case detection and strengthened community based interventions.
” With community based approaches such as mobile diagnostic units, community sputum, collection points and house to house screening playing an increasingly important role in finding people with TB early”, he added.
Mbendera further said that the progress demonstrates that Malawi is moving in the right direction, although more work is needed to find the remaining undiagnosed cases and ensure everyone has access to quality TB Services.
He also stated that the progress is encouraging and reflects the collective efforts of government, health workers, communities and development partners.
He however indicated that Tuberculosis remains a major public health challenge and there is need to find every missing TB cases,expand access to rapid diagnosis and treatment and strengthening community interventions so that no one is left behind in this journey towards ending TB in Malawi.
The national dialogue also noted that the country continues to face challenges, including declining external financing ,increasing costs associated with new diagnositic technologies and the need to strengthen services for children,drug – resistant TB,and vulnerable populations.
The program is therefore priotising expanded screening , improved diagnosis capacity, sustainable financing and stronger integration of TB Services with HIV, maternal and child health, nutrition and non- communicable disease programmes .
The National Dialogue brought together Government officials , development partners,Civil society organizations, researchers and other stakeholders
The ministry of health continues to encourage members of the public to seek medical attention immediately if they develop a cough lasting for two weeks or more and unexplained weight loss.
