Health communication experts and stakeholders across Malawi convened in Mangochi at the Sunbird Nkopola on 28th and 29th of May 2025 for the first ever National Health Promotion Conference, a very exciting and intriguing event where learning through sharing best practices took place. The conference was held under the theme “Communicating Health: Changing Behaviours, Transforming Lives’’. The gathering brought together participants from the Ministry of Health, Government Parastatals, Civil society, Academia, Community Leaders, Development Partners and the Media. The Meeting was graced by the Minister of Health, Honorable Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP.
The event started with a tour of exhibitions by the Minister and other distinguished guests that were mounted showcasing communication interventions being implemented by partners to support the public uptake and utilization of health services..
In the opening remarks, the Honorable Minister reaffirmed the ministry’s position that health promotion is no more a luxury but rather it is a national priority. She emphasized` that the conference theme on its own is a powerful call to action for sustaining lasting health outcomes depending on what people know, believe and do.
The Deputy Director of Community and Promotive Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kondwani Mamba concurred with the Minister and emphasized his desire to introduce novel approaches to improving delivery of Health communication messaging to complement impact of prevention interventions.
The conference focused on the areas of Demand Creation and Advocacy, Health Behavior Change & Communication, Models and Approaches for Health Promotion, Health Promotion Policies and Laws, Indigenizing Health Communication, Risk Communication and Community Engagement. A total of 53 oral and poster abstracts were presented that focused on the aforementioned areas. Participants had opportunities to interact with the presenters through question and response sessions.
A major highlight for the conference was the panel discussion whose panelist comprised of distinguished experts in academia, communication and program implementation in the likes of Prof. Adamson Muula from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Mrs Chimwemwe Mablekisi from National AIDS Commission, Dr Flemmings Ngwira from Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences and Dr Kondwani Mamba from Community and Promotive Health division in the Ministry of Health.
The chairperson of the organizing committee, Ms Bertha Sato appreciated the support that partners provided to make the conference one of the successful events despite being an inception one both in the country and the SADC region.
The momentum generated by the National Health Promotion Conference is expected to catalyze more inclusive, coordinated, and sustainable efforts to promote health and well being of people across the country.
The momentum generated by the National Health Promotion Conference is expected to catalyze more inclusive, coordinated, and sustainable efforts to promote health and well being of people across the country.