Malawi Research Program Elects New Community Advisory Group Members
The research programme conducts health studies in collaboration with local communities in the two districts.
BLANTYRE, Malawi — The Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Research Programme reaffirmed its commitment to community collaboration as it oversaw elections for new Community Advisory Group members in Chikwawa and Blantyre, writes Steria Manda.
MLW Community Engagement Officer Sharon Nkhwazi said the programme prioritises strong community relationships to ensure research is understood and trusted.
“We are dedicated to strengthening and sustaining our engagement with community members,” Nkhwazi said.
“These CAG elections show how communities take an active role in guiding our work.”
MLW operates in 55 villages across Chikwawa and expects to have approximately 70 CAG members chosen directly by communities.
The advisory groups serve a two-year term, and participation is voluntary.
CAGs bridge MLW and communities by communicating research activities and relaying community perspectives to researchers.
John Anderson Majamanda, an outgoing CAG member from Traditional Authority Mlilima, praised the program’s impact.
“I gained valuable knowledge about health research — on medicine, disease spread and control,” Majamanda said.
“MLW is helping people become better informed about health issues.”
The research programme conducts health studies in collaboration with local communities in the two districts.