UNC Project Malawi

05/11/2025

PUBLICATION:
Congratulations to the Tonse Pamodzi team on another publication. The manuscript explores the alignment between HIV exposure risk and oral PrEP adherence, measured by Tenofovir concentration. Findings show that alignment between risk and adherence was just over 50% at 3 and 6 months, while individuals at higher risk had misalignment exceeding 60% during the same period. The authors note that the relationship between risk and adherence is dynamic, underscoring the need to continue emphasizing adherence during periods of higher HIV exposure risk.

Objective When measured continuously, adherence to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is consistently low in studies of pregnant and postpartum women. We investigated how PrEP adherence aligned with HIV exposure risk. Methods We conducted a trial of a PrEP adherence support intervention in Lilongwe...

31/10/2025

This afternoon marks the conclusion of the 'Dolo wa Prep' training for navigators under the Path to Scale, PERSIST Trial, which has been running since Monday, 27 October 2025. Thirty participants have successfully completed their training and will now be deployed to various health facilities. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of a bundle of strategies designed to support continued use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), including long-acting injectable cabotegravir and oral PrEP, among high-priority groups

31/10/2025

Some of our breakaway session presenters and moderators at the National Public Health Research Dissemination Conference, happening from 29–31 October in Lilongwe, under the theme ‘Advancing Public Health Research for Building Resilient and Sustainable Systems.

29/10/2025

We are well represented at the National Public Health Research Dissemination Conference, taking place from 29–31 October in Lilongwe, under the theme: ‘Advancing Public Health Research for Building Resilient and Sustainable Systems.

28/10/2025

We celebrate with Dr. Takondwa Zuze Bvumbwe on her outstanding achievement as she officially completes specialist training in Internal Medicine at the University of Cape Town! 🩺👏Four years of dedication, hard work, and perseverance have paid off. Her success is truly inspiring! Ifenso takondwa!

27/10/2025

Good news for women's health in Malawi! A new study shows that a same-day HPV screen-triage-treat approach can be effective in preventing cervical cancer. In a recent trial, 96% of HPV-positive women received visual inspection and 99% of those eligible received treatment on the same day! This approach can help increase access to cervical cancer screening and treatment, especially in low-resource settings.

Congratulations to Asst. Prof. Lameck Chinula on the publication!

GeneXpert is a widely used diagnostic platform in sub-Saharan Africa. A novel assay for human papillomavirus (HPV) now raises possibilities for expanding GeneXpert testing to same-day screen–triage–t...

25/10/2025

Think 🩷.

25/10/2025

Today we proudly took part in the Think Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Walk in Lilongwe. It was an inspiring event bringing together people from all walks of life to support the fight against breast cancer, raise awareness, and promote early detection. 💗
Let’s continue to Think Pink, spread hope, and stand with all those affected. 🌸

24/10/2025

Dr. Mitch Matoga, Director of STI Research and Clinical Services and Implementation at UNC Project Malawi, presents on STI research in Malawi during the Shanghai International Syphilis Symposium 2025 (SISS 2025) held in the week.

23/10/2025

ance model, we estimate the annual county-level prevalence of opioid misuse for counties in North Carolina from 2016 to 2021. The model integrates county-level observed counts of illicit opioid overdose deaths, people receiving prescriptions for buprenorphine, and people served by treatment programs...

22/10/2025

Protecting Mothers After Cesarean Births
Cesarean sections save lives — but infections after surgery (post-cesarean sepsis) affect about 7% of mothers worldwide and can lead to serious complications.
The FIGO Committee on Infections During Pregnancy has launched new global guidelines to prevent and treat these infections. Simple steps like using antibiotics, proper skin prep, and safe surgical practices can make a life-saving difference.

We congratulate Dr. Friday Saidi for co-authoring this review article that highlights the current best practice for preventing post-cesarean sepsis.

Cesarean section is the most common surgical procedure performed worldwide. It is associated with good perinatal and maternal outcomes when indicated. The rising global cesarean birth rate has coinci...

17/10/2025

About one in every four people in Sub-Saharan Africa has anemia, a condition where the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells. To make testing easier, doctors can now use a quick test called Masimo SpHb that measures hemoglobin (the part of blood that carries oxygen) without drawing blood. This study wanted to find out how accurate this quick test is compared to the regular lab test called the full blood count (FBC).

We congratulate Melissa Issa-Boube, our previous Fogarty Fellow, on her recent publication evaluating the performance of a POC hemoglobin test.

Anemia is prevalent in approximately 25% of patients in Sub-Saharan Africa, and point-of-care diagnosis is a convenient option. We aimed to assess the accuracy of the Masimo SpHb when compared to the full blood count (FBC) in determining hemoglobin (Hb) levels.