UNIMA holds Malawi’s First Health Policy and Biostatistics Research Engagement Workshop
The Health Policy and Biostatistics Research Engagement Workshop, the first of its kind in Malawi, is currently underway in Salima.
The workshop aims to explore ways of effectively utilising research outputs in health policymaking.
The workshop, which was officially opened on 6th October 2025 by Professor Samson Sajidu, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malawi (UNIMA), has been organised by UNIMA with financial support from the Centre for Resilient Agri-food Systems (CRAFS) and the Sub-Saharan Africa Consortium for Advanced Biostatistics (SSACAB) at the University of the Witwatersrand.
In his opening remarks, Professor Sajidu noted that over the years, significant research output in biostatistics and related fields has been generated by training and research institutions in the country, which has contributed to improvements in public health.
However, he observed that mechanisms for translating these research findings into health policy have not been adequately explored, hence the importance of this workshop.
“This workshop is crucial for the future of the health sector in the country. It provides a new chapter for collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the University in unlocking potential for local solutions to the challenges facing the health sector,” he said.
Professor Sajidu highlighted that modern-day public health decisions and policies are increasingly data-driven, and as the dynamics of society’s health needs continue to evolve, the importance of biostatistics research cannot be overemphasized.
He added that this is why UNIMA introduced programmes in biostatistics to build national capacity in this critical area.
Professor Sajidu encouraged participants to actively engage and develop practical strategies for the continued utilisation of university research in health policymaking.
Dr. Andrew Jamali, Acting Director of Knowledge and Learning at the National Planning Commission, noted that while research plays a critical role in transforming lives, particularly in the health sector, there’s still a persistent gap between researchers and policy designers. He explained that this gap often arises because researchers do not always engage strategically with policymakers or frame their outputs in ways that directly address policy needs.
The three-day event, which will conclude on 8th October, 2025, has attracted specialists and researchers from various institutions, including the Ministry of Health, Malawi University of Business and Applied Science (MUBAS), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), the University of the Witwatersrand, and the National Planning Commission.
The workshop has provided participants with an opportunity to reflect on how they can strengthen the link between research and policy so that research can make meaningful contributions toward national development.
Participants are also discussing how they can work effectively with other stakeholders, such as communication professionals, to disseminate their research findings in ways that benefit the public.
