Malawi has expanded access to NCD services, but advocates say stronger political leadership, funding and community involvement are needed to turn progress into meaningful care.
NEWS | Health | Non-communicable Diseases | By Watipaso Mzungu
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for approximately 40% of all deaths in Malawi, making them the country’s second leading cause of death after HIV/AIDS, according to the World Health Organization’s 2025 Malawi Annual Report.
The finding has prompted the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Malawi (NCD Alliance Malawi) to call on government, development partners and civil society to turn their commitments on NCDs into action.
In a statement marking this year’s Global Week for Action on NCDs, NCD Alliance Malawi national chairperson Maud Mwakasungula said stronger political leadership, increased funding and community action were needed to address the growing burden of NCDs.
The alliance is joining the global commemoration from 31 August to 4 September 2026 under the theme, “Leadership in Focus: From Commitments to Delivery.” It says the week should go beyond speeches and commitments to focus on tangible improvements for people living with NCDs.
Mwakasungula said diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases were placing a growing burden on individuals, families, the health system and the country’s development.
The burden is being driven by risk factors including tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity, as well as wider social and environmental factors.
“While we commend progress, the reality is that too many Malawians are still dying early from conditions that are largely preventable and treatable,” Mwakasungula said.
NCD Alliance Malawi, however, commended the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and partners, including Partners In Health (PIH Malawi), for expanding access to NCD services.
Among the gains highlighted is the integration of Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease Interventions (PEN) services into 300 primary healthcare centres. The services provide screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up for common NCDs.
The PEN-Plus approach targets people with more severe and complex conditions, helping to decentralise care and bring treatment closer to communities.
“Fifteen PEN-Plus clinics now provide care for people living with severe and complex NCDs at district and first-level referral hospitals,” Mwakasungula said. “Malawi is now among the leading performers in PEN-Plus implementation in the WHO African Region.”
Despite the progress, the alliance warned that expanding services will mean little if they are not adequately resourced and accessible, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Mwakasungula also called for people living with NCDs to have a greater role in decisions affecting their care.
“People living with NCDs must also be meaningfully involved in shaping, implementing and monitoring policies and programmes that affect their lives,” she said.
As part of Global Week for Action, NCD Alliance Malawi will host an open-ground event at Kabudula Primary School in Lilongwe on 2 September.
The event will produce a charter outlining priority actions and commitments from stakeholders. The charter will later be presented to the Parliamentary Committee on Health as part of efforts to strengthen political leadership and accountability on NCDs.
The event is being organised by NCD Alliance Malawi in partnership with PIH, with financial support from the World Diabetes Foundation and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
NCD Alliance Malawi is a national civil society network working to reduce preventable illness, disability and avoidable deaths from NCDs and injuries in Malawi.
