Malawi gains UK expertise

UK tropical disease specialists have been awarded £10 million to develop medical research in Malawi.

The contract was awarded to consultants Liverpool Associates in Tropical Health in association with development research centres in the UK and Canada.

Developing research capacity and recording could help the country better understand the health needs of its inhabitants.

Life expectancy in the south-east African country is 50 years for men and women, with HIV/Aids the biggest killer followed by respiratory infections then malaria, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization.

Working towards better medical research in the country will be conducted under the auspices of the National Research Council of Malawi (NRCM) and funded for five years.

Programme coordinator Margret Caffrey said: "The strengthening and transfer of key management and strategic planning skills will enable NRCM to more effectively coordinate and manage all health research activities in Malawi."

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