malawi impact
Our work in Malawi
Health workers in rural communities in Malawi, Southern Africa, face overwhelming challenges such as understaffing, resource scarcity, climate shocks, and brain drain. These systemic gaps drive burnout, turnover, and ultimately worsen health outcomes for patients. Despite these challenges, the Government of Malawi and civil society have shown strong leadership in responding to these systemic challenges.
In Neno, a rural and resource-denied district of Malawi home to more than 150,000 people, HEAL has a 10-year track record partnering with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Partners In Health, Malawi (Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo) to connect, train, and mentor rural health workers deeply committed to health equity. HEAL expanded the three-way partnership in 2025 with the HEAL Malawi Leadership Program, focusing on supporting and building capacity for Malawian healthcare workers serving the most rural communities in Neno. With trained, mentored, and supported healthcare leaders embedded in communities, we are starting to address these critical inequities.
Our impact
67%
Of Malawian HEAL Alumni stay in rural Neno District, despite historically high turnover rates
10
Years of partnerships with health centers and organizations serving underserved Malawians
89%
Of Malawian HEAL Alumni are actively engaged in teaching and mentoring the current HEAL Malawi Leadership Program
impact story
Turning Insight into Impact for Newborns in Malawi
88% Of fellows report that participating in HEAL has changed their approach to work in healthcare
Taweni Nyirenda, a nurse-midwife technician in Neno, Malawi, reduced hypothermia cases in her neonatal intensive care unit within weeks. Something she didn’t believe someone in her position could do before she joined HEAL, just six months earlier.
