Funded by the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) and in collaboration with the Malawi Ministry of Health (MOH) through the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), The USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program–Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project has distributed 14,500 insecticide treated nets (ITNs) to health facilities and households in 12 districts that were affected by Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Malawi’s southern region. The nets, procured with funding from the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), are part of USAID's emergency response to protect survivors of the cyclone, especially pregnant women and children, from malaria infection.
As of March 22, 2023, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) indicated that 511 people had died, 562,415 were displaced, and 537 were still missing due to the cyclone.
The distribution exercise is a PMI-funded joint venture by GHSC-PSM and the MOH, which involved identifying affected areas, quantifying the need for ITNs, preparing a distribution plan, and transporting to the affected areas. Nearly 70 percent of the donated nets came from PMI, while the rest came from the MOH.
GHSC-PSM closely coordinated deliveries to district health offices by engaging the District Emergency Response and District Health Management Teams and the District Malaria Coordinators for subsequent distribution of the nets at distribution camps.
The nets were delivered to Blantyre, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Thyolo, Zomba, Balaka, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Neno, and Phalombe districts.
