By Ousman Kaliati:
First Lady Getrude Mutharika has urged environmental health professionals to continue championing disease prevention, saying public health achieves its greatest victory when a crisis is prevented.
Mutharika was speaking in Salima yesterday during the opening of the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Malawi Environmental Health Association (Meha), where she was unveiled as the association’s patron.
“You work quietly, persistently and effectively in our markets, clinics, schools and villages. You identify risks before they become outbreaks, educate households and protect public spaces,” she said.
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Mutharika encouraged Meha, universities and other health professionals to turn research and data into affordable, practical and scalable local solutions.
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She also stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing environmental health challenges.
“Beyond institutions, environmental health is the responsibility of every single citizen. We all have a role to play in keeping our countries clean, safe and green,” she said.
Mutharika said the Beautify Malawi (Beam) Trust, which she founded and patronises, would continue working with Meha to accelerate progress in communities.
Meha president Bertha Sato said strong environmental health systems could strengthen the country’s resilience and serve as the first line of defence against health threats.
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Sato said the meeting would provide an opportunity to share best practices, research and knowledge on climate change and disaster preparedness.
The AGM is being held under the theme ‘Environmental Health: Key to Attainment of Climate Change Resilience’.
Delegates from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda and South Africa virtually attended the opening.
Meha is a registered professional association for environmental health practitioners, with an oversight role in environmental health practice in Malawi.
