Temweka Kumwenda (right), is a senior nursing and midwifery officer and Lilongwe District Hospital’s coordinator for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. USAID/Cassie Vasiloff

Empowering Nurses as Leaders in Malawi

Written by Cassie Vasiloff
USAID Bureau for Global Health, Office of HIV/AIDS

Nurses are “the heart of the hospital,” according to Joyce Chakulumira, a nursing officer at Lilongwe District Hospital in Malawi. Yet, countries like Malawi suffer from a chronic nursing shortage, with just seven nurses per 10,000 Malawians, causing strain on the health system, especially in rural areas. 

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(From left) Rabson Katyale (23), Robert Frakson (25), Lyoness Chisi (23), and Bertha Mushuni (30) are fourth year nursing students at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and recipients of scholarships from USAID’s nursing scholarship program. USAID/Cassie Vasiloff
(From left) Rabson Katyale (23), Robert Frakson (25), Lyoness Chisi (23), and Bertha Mushuni (30) are fourth year nursing students at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and recipients of scholarships from USAID’s nursing scholarship program.
USAID/Cassie Vasiloff

This has significant implications for the workload nurses are expected to manage because often they are the sole providers of high-demand essential health services, including those for HIV. Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (GAIA) to provide scholarships to nursing students to help bridge health worker gaps and deliver vital health and HIV services throughout Malawi. Learn more here.

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(From left) Nolia, Temweka, and Joyce represent three of Lilongwe District Hospital’s nurse leaders. USAID/Cassie Vasiloff
(From left) Nolia, Temweka, and Joyce represent three of Lilongwe District Hospital’s nurse leaders.
USAID/Cassie Vasiloff
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Malawi Stories