22/09/2026
Ministry Of Health - Malawi Deputy Minister commends Japan and UNICEF support to Measles-Rubella campaign
State House Malawi Mercy Wa Phiri Charles Broomhead Chilambula Clifton Su Botha Arthur Peter Mutharika Likoma District Council Visit Likoma Island Kaka Patrick Ulele Chikoti Malawi Government Gift Likoma Chimata Chizumulu Island Mercy Valle Mcfallen Mafuta
Salima, Tuesday, 22 September 2026 — Government has expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan and UNICEF for their continued support to Malawi’s health and sanitation programmes, including the ongoing Measles-Rubella (MR) and Vitamin A Supplementation Campaign.
Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Honourable Charles Chilambula, MP, made the remarks in Salima on Tuesday during supportive supervision of the ongoing campaign to assess implementation and appreciate the response of health workers and communities.
The five-day nationwide campaign commenced on Monday, 21 September 2026, targeting children aged 9 months to 9 years for Measles-Rubella vaccination and children aged 6 to 59 months for Vitamin A supplementation.
Hon. Chilambula said the Government of Malawi remains grateful to its development partners for their continued investment in protecting children and strengthening health services.
He specifically acknowledged the Government of Japan for supporting the campaign, as well as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and nutrition interventions through UNICEF, with approximately US$746,666 in support benefiting Salima and Thyolo districts.
“We are already seeing the benefits of this support, although the project started only a few months ago. We are hopeful that by the end of the 12-month implementation period, the impact will be even more evident,” said Chilambula.
Through the supplementary funding, the Government has received an additional 100,000 doses of vaccines, support for the renovation of sanitation facilities, and assistance towards nutrition screening and assessment, among other interventions.
“It remains our hope that our collaborative efforts will make a significant difference in improving the health and wellbeing of children and communities,” he added.
The Deputy Minister said the MR campaign provides an important opportunity to close immunity gaps and strengthen community protection against measles and rubella.
“The more children we protect, the more we reduce the risk of disease transmission and its complications,” he said.
As of August 2026, Malawi had recorded 376 confirmed measles cases, with significant numbers reported in Nsanje, Chikwawa, Balaka, Lilongwe and Kasungu. Children under 10 years have been particularly affected.
Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, His Excellency Yasushi Naito, said every person should have access to essential health services and that no one should be left behind because of their circumstances.
“Supporting children to have good health is critical for their growth and development,” said Naito.
The Ambassador also commended parents, guardians and community leaders for bringing children to designated vaccination centres and called for continued collective action to protect children.
“Let us all get vaccinated to save the lives of children and help them become the leaders of the future,” he said.
Naito further called for strengthened collaboration among the Government of Malawi, development partners and communities to ensure that children and families benefit from available health services.
UNICEF Malawi Representative, Dr Penelope Campbell, described vaccination as an essential intervention for protecting communities and called on all stakeholders to work together to maximise every opportunity to improve child health.
Dr Campbell also highlighted challenges affecting access to health services in Mtauchila, Salima District, where more than 3,000 people have reportedly experienced limited and unreliable access to health services for over a year following flooding and disruption of access routes.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, blindness and inflammation of the brain. Rubella is generally mild in children but can have serious consequences when infection occurs during pregnancy, including congenital rubella syndrome, which can cause severe birth defects in newborns.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation continues to call on parents, guardians and communities to ensure that eligible children receive the Measles-Rubella vaccine and Vitamin A supplementation at designated vaccination points during the five-day campaign.
