Malawi’s Traditional Leaders Key to COVID-19 Response

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted society in Malawi at all levels—even the most remote communities like Nkhatabay district in the Northern Region. Engaging local leadership in epidemic preparedness and prevention was a core strategy for ONSE to fight the spread of COVID-19. 

In May 2020, ONSE conducted a community training on infection prevention and control with 18 traditional leaders from Nkhatabay district. 

Many communities in Malawi look to their traditional leaders as authority figures who provide guidance and direction. This local leadership has been critical in Malawi for preventing COVID-19, protecting people and communities from the virus, and ensuring that essential services continue. 

One of the traditional leaders who attended the training is Simeon Nkhoma, the Traditional Authority also known as Malanda. Using the knowledge he gained from the ONSE community training, Nkhoma mobilized his community to establish infection prevention measures. He organized multiple sensitization meetings to stop misinformation, restricted large gatherings of people, issued mandatory mask wearing, and established hand-washing stations around the community. 

Nkhoma facilitated monthly meetings with other chiefs to gather feedback and encourage discussion about issues such as follow-up of travelers in the area and compliance to preventive measures. 

Nkhoma’s evidence-based actions focused on the needs of his people and epitomized leadership that has been needed during the COVID-19 public health crisis. 

“When we first heard of the coronavirus here in my community, my people received the news with both fear and caution. We were not sure how the virus would affect our people and we therefore knew that precautionary measures needed to be put in place immediately. Thankfully, ONSE also came in with its orientation program on COVID-19 prevention measures which pushed us more.” – Simeon Nkhoma, Traditional Authority 

Leadership from Malawi’s Ministry of Health applauded ONSE’s community engagement efforts and Nkhoma’s actions as the Traditional Authority.  

“We are so proud of how various traditional leaders in Nkhatabay are working together in trying to eradicate the virus. We are especially amazed in the particular area of Traditional Authority Malanda. To see with our own eyes the measures being spearheaded … gives us confidence that Malawi will beat this virus.” – Community Health Ambassador, Maziko Matemba. 

“We are so proud of how various traditional leaders in Nkhatabay are working together in trying to eradicate the virus. We are especially amazed in the particular area of Traditional Authority Malanda. To see with our own eyes the measures being spearheaded … gives us confidence that Malawi will beat this virus.” 

Community Health Ambassador Maziko Matemba