A Warm Welcome to Our Colleagues from Sierra Leone!
This week (25th to 29th August 2025), Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi (NMCM) is delighted to host our counterparts from the Sierra Leone Nursing and Midwifery Council for a special learning visit. We are thrilled to continue a partnership that has already proven immensely valuable for both our nations.
This visit demonstrates the impact of shared learning. After applying successful strategies from their initial trip to Malawi, the Sierra Leone delegation has returned to enhance our collaboration and further strengthen their regulatory practices.
In her welcoming remarks, the Registrar, Mrs. Judith Chirembo, extended a warm greeting to the visiting delegation on behalf of the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi. She emphasised that the visit is both an honour and a testament to the importance of shared learning and collaboration in advancing nursing and midwifery regulation. “It highlights the mutual benefits of the visit, where both councils can learn from each other’s systems, innovations, challenges, and approaches.”
Her remarks underscored that such learning exchanges are vital for benchmarking practices, harmonising standards, fostering accountability, and strengthening regional and global collaboration in nursing and midwifery. Ultimately, the visit is seen as a way to build resilient health systems and ensure that nurses and midwives are empowered to provide safe, competent, and ethical care.
The Registrar of Sierra Leone Nursing and Midwifery Council, Mrs. Christiana Massally, reflected on the ongoing collaboration between Sierra Leone and Malawi. She explained that a previous delegation from Sierra Leone had learned valuable lessons during their visit to Malawi, which influenced reforms back home, including the introduction of direct entry midwifery training. She acknowledged the important contributions of several Malawian women leaders in shaping nursing and midwifery policies in Sierra Leone, including Mrs. Margaret Phiri and Dr. Emeless Phuma, who were instrumental in developing key regulatory documents and curricula.
She further emphasised that the current visit is a study tour aimed at learning, listening, and sharing best practices to help Sierra Leone’s Nursing and Midwifery Council move from theory to full operationalisation. She expressed gratitude to Malawi for the warm reception and highlighted the role of Partners in Health (PIH), represented by Mr. Billy Mawindo, in supporting the visit.
We invite you to join us in welcoming the distinguished delegates. During their stay, they will engage with the NMCM team and tour a wide range of institutions—from the training halls of Daeyang University to the wards of Kamuzu Central Hospital—to experience the full spectrum of Malawi’s nursing and midwifery landscape.
The delegation comprises: Mr. Sheku Kiroma – Council Member, Mrs. Christiana Massally – Registrar, Mrs. Elizabeth Tucka – Deputy Registrar and Mr. Billy Mawindo – Partners in Health Sierra Leone Program Manager
Key Activities that will take place include: meetings with NMCM and representatives from training institutions (Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Daeyang University and Nkhoma College of Nursing. And site visits to Kamuzu Central Hospital, Christian Health Association of Malawi, Ministry of Health’s Nursing Directorate, Medical Council of Malawi, Association of Malawian Midwives (AMAMI), and National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi (NONM).
Malawi Officially Launches Mid-Level Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Training Programme
The Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi (NMCM) successfully launched the Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Training Programme at Lilongwe Hotel on 28th July 2025. The event marked a significant milestone in Malawi’s efforts to strengthen leadership within its health system.
The training was officially opened by Dr Lilian Chunda, Chief of Health Services in the Ministry of Health, on behalf of the Secretary for Health, Dr Samson Mndolo. In her remarks, Dr Chunda emphasised that the programme represents a strategic investment in healthcare leadership, especially for frontline professionals like nurses and midwives who are critical to service delivery across the country.
“This is more than just a training; it is a turning point. Nurses and midwives are the backbone of our health system, and empowering them with leadership skills will significantly improve the quality, efficiency, and equity of healthcare in Malawi,” said Dr Chunda.
The training is designed to build leadership capacity among mid-level nurses and midwives, equipping them with essential skills in:
- Strategic thinking and innovation
- Advocacy and policy engagement
- Health system reform
- Team building and effective communication
Dr Chunda highlighted that leadership in nursing and midwifery goes beyond clinical competence. It requires the vision, courage, and capacity to influence change; qualities the programme aims to nurture.
Dr Chunda applauded NMCM’s role in not only regulating the profession but also in promoting visionary leadership development. NMCM was recognised for aligning the training with broader national health priorities and ensuring that the programme supports both professional growth and system-wide improvement.
The successful launch of the programme was made possible through strong collaboration with key partners, including:
- Global Health Partnership (GHP) – for financial and technical support
- Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF) – for curriculum development and mentorship
- Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) – for capacity-building support and peer learning
- Malawian faculty and mentors – for their dedication to delivering impactful sessions
Their combined contributions reflect a shared commitment to elevating nursing and midwifery standards in Malawi and beyond.
