Type of Intervention: Executive Order
Sectors Involved: Finance/Economy, Foreign Affairs, Health, Local Government, Social Services
Intervention Categories: Planning and strategy; creation or release of plans
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Lead People/Agency: N/A
Overview: Launch of National COVID-19 preparedness and response Plan
The Government of Malawi, in fulfilling its primary role of protecting the lives of its vulnerable citizens during disasters and reducing their exposure to risk through preparedness, led the development of a National Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Preparedness and Response Plan. Malawi recognizes the serious threat that the on-going COVID-19 global outbreak poses on the country. Global movements and interaction between Malawi and affected countries through travel and trade. Additionally, the novel Coronavirus has been confirmed in several countries outside China which have relations with Malawi. Affected countries are putting in containment measures to control the spread of COVID-19.
The plan has been developed to establish operational procedures for preparedness and response to COVID-19 based on risks identified by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and other emerging context-based criteria.
The main objective of this COVID-19 Plan is to prevent, rapidly detect and effectively respond to any COVID-19 outbreak thereby reducing morbidity and mortality in the country.
Due to the evolving nature of the novel coronavirus, the Preparedness and Response Plan will be updated every 3 months or on a need basis.
This multi-sectoral plan aims to ensure prevention of COVID-19 spread into the country, preparedness and readiness for a timely, consistent and coordinated response in the event of COVID-19 outbreak.
The Preparedness and Response Plan is based on three scenarios- when there is no COVID-19 case, when a COVID-19 case is confirmed (an imported or sporadic case) and when more people are affected by COVID-19 either as clusters or with community transmission.
Full details here: https://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/national-covid-19-preparedness-and-response-plan-march-june-2020
Other links: 1
Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group, Advice of EXTERNAL expert advisor or advisory committee
Source of Evidence or Justification: World Health Organisation, International – other
Evidence/Justification: As quoted in the policy document.
“The Government of Malawi, in fulfilling its primary role of protecting the lives of its vulnerable citizens during disasters and reducing their exposure to risk through preparedness, led the development of a National Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Preparedness and Response Plan. Malawi recognizes the serious threat that the on-going COVID-19 global outbreak poses on the country. Global movements and interaction between Malawi and affected countries through travel and trade. Additionally, the novel Coronavirus has been confirmed in several countries outside China which have relations with Malawi. Affected countries are putting in containment measures to control the spread of COVID-19.”
“Malawi receives about 1200 international passengers at the two international airports on a daily basis. A significant number of these travelers are mainly from the countries hit by the coronavirus outbreak. Travelers from countries with ongoing transmission also pass through the two airports, hence any suspected or confirmed case on these conveyances poses a major risk of exposure to these travelers. Additionally, the ground crossings connect to countries that have confirmed cases.”