UNC Project To Conduct HIV Vaccine Tests in Malawi

Professor Francis Martinson 

After success in conducting Malaria candidate vaccine for children waiting approval from World Health Organization, the UNC Project in Malawi is planning to carry out tests of HIV vaccine.

Professor Francis Martinson the UNC Project Country Director, disclosed that the study only awaits an approval of their application by the National Health Sciences Research Committee.

He said once the committee give a go ahead, tests will be carried out in areas where there is high HIV prevalence and that trials will target close to 20 adults with low risk of HIV.

With all support, Martinson said those participants will be followed up for the rest of their lives to see how the vaccine behaves in their body.

He offered hope that once the results of the study brings out positive result, there is possibility of trying the vaccine to those infected with HIV Virus.

Prof. Martinson made emphasis that this HIV Vaccine study aims at adding force to existing tools for fighting HIV prevalence.

"HIV prevalence remains at 10% for quite some time now, so we need more tools to force down the prevalence. That is why the issue of HIV Vaccine comes in." he said

He explained that the vaccine which is not an infectious agents, once introduced in the normal body will trick the body to produce antibodies that can be ready to fight and kill the virus so that the body does not get infected.

But he urged people to be part of the trial process "Everybody needs to do their portion. You need to be part of the process." Urged Prof. Martinson

"If we test the HIV virus in your country is easy to do a vaccine and the chances that the vaccine will work better in your country are far better than if we go and test those vaccines in another country and bring the results here.

It is always good to participate in some of these things so that you reap the full benefits of the results of these studies" explained Martinson

The UNC Project country director hinted that many SADC region countries where HIV prevalence is very high including South Africa, Botswana and Zambia are also participating in this vaccine.

"In these places people have higher chances of being exposed to HIV virus. The Vaccine is being tested in these areas because they are people who will benefit most with the vaccine."

UNC Project in Malawi was also recently involved in trials for malaria candidate vaccine for children (RTS, S/ Mosquirix) which will soon be recommended by World Health Organisation. The Committee for Medical Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has already made a positive opinion of the vaccine.

Important facts

Prof. Martinson has emphasized that the project will be looking at possibility of testing the HIV Vaccine in a small section of the population to see how it works. And if the vaccine is able to demonstrate that it works adequately, UNC Project will be able to tweak where little inefficiency are and then scale up the vaccination to a bigger group to see really what happens in a population if it’s possible.



He indicated that this vaccine is not an infectious agents. But Said this Vaccine only has part of the virus that causes the body to react and produce antibodies but cannot infect the body. So it will just trick the body to produce antibodies which normally when somebody gets infected those antibodies should be ready to fight the virus which has been introduced and kill them so that that person does not get infected.



The vaccine wants to prevent people from the virus so the people to be vaccinated are those that are not infected so are not taking medications



“We need to try this to someone who is normal first so that once we know the body is reacting right then we can go to somebody who has either been infected depending on type of the vaccine that we will be using, or pre use it to prevent everybody who has not been exposed” explained Prof. Martinson



“May be somewhere along the line when we have seen how it behaves in normal people it may be possible to look to see those people who are already infected and are taking medication if the vaccine is going to be of any use to them also to help them fight the virus.” he said

Two Children Torch Home, Kill 7 Months Old Girl

A seven months old baby girl died in fire that gutted down home in Kasungu district.

The raging inferno is reportedly to have been ignited by her two little siblings playing with the fire when their mom was away, says Police.

Sub Inspector Edna Mzingwitsa, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer in Kasungu identified the deceased as Esnart Samson.

Mzingwitsa says while the 7 month old girl was sleeping inside the house her mother left home to draw water but had asked two children aged 4 and 2 who were at that time playing outside the house to keep eye of their sister.  

Sub Inspector Mzingwitsa said the two children began to play with fire which accidentally caught up the grass thatched house.

Mzingwitsa said though neighbors rushed to put-off the fire, found the baby already burned to death

The police officer indicated that the incident that occurred on late hours of Wednesday happened at Jere village, of T/A Wimbe in Kasungu district.

Police have since appealed to the general public that parents should not leave little children alone but with a grown up guardian to avoid such incidents.

Standard Bank Rebrand its Jazz Concert to ‘Blue Mingoli’

Standard Bank's annual music concert 'Joy of Jazz' returns this year with new name 'Blue Mingoli'

Last year, the bank took a break from hosting a main jazz concert, but instead treated its selected customers to a jazz evening with South Africa's contemporary jazz man, Jimmy Dludlu in Lilongwe.

Margaret Kubwalo 

"I am pleased to announce that the main Jazz Concert is back. We have rebranded the concert to "Blue Mingoli" disclosed Margaret Kubwalo-Chaika Standard Bank Head of Personal and Business Banking  

Kubwalo said the rebranding aims to create a relevant platform for the bank's annual jazz concerts while maintaining its objectives of promoting the development of local musicians.

She therefore said Blue Mingoli will maintain legacy where leading Malawian musicians will be invited to share the stage with international artists.

"Under Blue Mingoli, we have created a new platform that resonates with Malawian music lovers, our customers and local musicians

Blue Mingoli will not take away anything from our fans, but rather add icing to a delicious cake." Added Kubwalo

Kubwalo said Blue Mingoli highlights the power of relevant connections that the Standard Bank brand has with its customers who are lovers of music. 

This year's Blue Mingoli concert is scheduled to take place at the Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe on October 24, 2015.

"We have cast the net wider in terms of the caliber of the international artist we will invite." Said Kubwalo but indicated that the Bank will reveal the identity of the artists soon 

Ahead of the concert, Standard Bank has lined up a series of pre-concert shows at popular entertainment joints in Blantyre and Lilongwe.

In 2012, Standard bank brought South Africa's award-winning artist, Zahara, the following year, the bank invited US Grammy-Award winning jazz master, Earl Klugh.

Malawi Anticipate Booming Mining Sector After Positive Survey Results

The Malawi Government has expressed optimism that the Country-wide High Resolution Airborne Geophysical Data will propel government plans of diversifying the economy.

Data obtained from the survey conducted between September 2013 and August 2014 which involved radiometric and gravity methods has been launched on Thursday in the capital city, Lilongwe.

Results from the survey, shows that there are mineral deposits across the country but Geological Survey Department is yet to interpret and conduct ground follow-up for the whole data set. However interested individuals and companies can still access the data and conduct their own interpretation and ground follow-ups based on their interest.

Hon Bright Msaka 

Speaking when launching the results, Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Hon. Bright Msaka, said the results from the survey are impressive enough to greatly improve the mining profile of Malawi.

He said this data is likely going to attract more investors and lead to stimulated mineral exploration.

The Minister then said from such intensive explorations, the country will start earning more revenue from the mining sector and possibly end the overdependence on Agriculture sector.

"Malawi's economy has been agro-based since independence, relying a lot on revenue from major cash crops, in particular tobacco. However, various factors including the global anti-smoking lobby, unpredictable and hostile climatic conditions among others, have heavily affected the agricultural sector and subsequently, the country's agrarian-dependent economy" noted the Minister when speaking on sidelines of heavy dependence of agriculture

To further enhance economic diversification and realize sustainable economic growth, Hon Msaka mentioned that Malawi also will implement number of reforms in the mining sector.

He among others said government will introduce number of initiatives including enactment of mining related Acts.

Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann

In his remarks, European Union Head of Delegation to Malawi, Ambassador Marchel Gerrmann also noted that the new data marks beginning of development of mining sector as well as economic diversification and broadening of the resource base.

But he stressed that Malawi ought to be more transparent and properly manage resources generated from the sector including contracts and licenses to fully realize potential of the mining sector.

On other hand, Ambassador Gerrmann, hailed Malawi's interest to join Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) saying this is a right direction geared towards more transparency in mining sector.

On 6th November, 2013, Malawi launched the Country-wide High Resolution Airborne Geophysical Survey at a function held at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, kicking off a massive search for high value mineral deposits.

The search involved low flying aircrafts hovering over the whole country and the exercise was widely known as 'Kauniuni.

US$ 5.7 Million from World Bank Mining Governance and Growth Support Project (MGGSP) loan (amounting to US$ 25 million) was spent in acquiring the airborne data while, European Union co-financed the Project with a Grant amounting to 4.1 million Euros.

Chia Productions Brings Chiphwando cha Ndakatulo in Lilongwe

A local Studio Chia Productions is set to take the Capital City, Lilongwe by storm on Sunday 13th September 2015 with a poet event dubbed 'Chiphwando Cha Ndakatulo' 

Gift Khabuwa, Public Relations Officer for Chia Productions told Malawi Voice that Chia productions is bringing Chiphwando Cha Ndakatulo to make Lilongwe experience the best poetry event that never happened before in the Capital. 

Gift Khabuwa

He said for the first time in Lilongwe, the poetry event  will draw together a lot of renowned poets who never met face to face in Lilongwe.

"For the first time and ever before, it will be Robert Chiwamba facing Nyamalikiti Nthiwatiwa" said Khabuwa 

"Not only that" he said,  "We have on the line up, Sylvester Kalizang'oma the Amkalindanji Moyo fame, Joseph Mazeze who did Amunanga a Chikabudula and Raphael Sitima just to mention a few."

He also disclosed that several comedians including Atcheya, Mr. Malawi and Aunt Geti are also prepared to make people laugh their lungs out. 

"We have number of things organized for this day" added Khabuwa

He then mentioned that the show will include live musical performance starting late hours.

He said the live performances headlined by Lulu and Mathumela Band will include Dalisoul from Zambia, Innocent Chitimbe and Sangwani Munthali who will also entertain people with classic Jazz.

"This function is organized to give Lilongwe fans what they have been looking for a very long time" said Gift Khabuwa

The event scheduled to take place at Wakawaka Hotel starting at 1 Pm will cost K1000 for advance tickets found at Galani Shop behind Mangochi building and Globe Star near Wullian Super Market. But Tickets will cost K1500 at the entrance.

Woman Commit Suicide After Suffering from Cancer

Police in Ntchisi district in the central region of Malawi says a 50 year old woman has committed suicide for allegedly suffering from cancer disease for a very long time. 

The suicide which police suspect to have occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday this week, found the deceased hanging in a tree.

Police have identified the deceased as Selina Zamtima of Kankowe village in the area of Traditional Authority Nthondo in Ntchisi. 

Sergeant Gladson M'bumpha, Ntchisi Police Public Relations Officer, while confirming the suicide said the woman was diagnosed with cancer long time ago.

"The deceased has been suffering from cancer for along time and she has been admitted to Ntchisi District Hospital for several times." confirmed 

Sergeant M'bumpha indicated that the woman has been critically ill and week so that her husband had on 11 August 2015, taken her to a traditional doctor at Khadani village for further assistance. 

However, the Ntchisi Police PRO indicated that the deceased never get any treatment from the traditional doctor and that on August 18th 2015 at around 8pm she went missing only to be discovered hanging up in a tree.

M'bumpha said postmortem conducted by a medical officer revealed that death was due to suffocation and no foul play suspected. 

He also indicated that the incident took place at Khadani village in the area of Traditional Authority Chikho in the district. 

Malaria Vaccine RTS,S Receives Positive Opinion From European Regulators

Malaria candidate vaccine ‘Mosquirix’ RTS, S receives positive opinion from European regulators. This is a milestone in the fight against malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive scientific opinion for Mosquirix’ RTS, S,  which trigger the body’s immune system to defend against the malaria parasite among children aged 6 weeks to 17 months. 

Prof. Francis Martinson

UNC Project Country Director, Prof. Francis Martinson, also the Principle Investigator for the vaccine trial in Malawi, says “We have played one of the biggest headways” 

Prof. Martinson said the opinion from CHMP of the EMA made on 24th July, 2015 agrees that the vaccine is good enough to be used “everywhere” where there is malaria transmission. 

He said the Mosquirix’ RTS, S, S is a noticeable milestone and a plus for number of existing malaria prevention tools that includes bed nets and sanitation as this vaccine will hopefully increase the efficacy of prevention programmes so that less people get infected with Malaria.

“We strongly believe that as fewer and fewer people have the parasite in them then the eventual dream of having eradication of malaria will come true.” He said

A lot of people die of Malaria in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In 2013, there were an estimated 584,000 deaths with around 90 percent of these occurring in SSA, and 83 percent in children under the age of five in SSA.

“If you visit any hospital during the malaria season, many of the cases that the clinicians are seeing or are on admission are malaria cases. So if we can prevent that many from appearing in the hospital, that will be a lot of time for the doctors and nurses to provide a better care to those who find themselves in the hospital.” Added Prof. Martinson 

Prof. Martinson further said, following this positive opinion, the documentation has been forwarded to Word Health Organisation (WHO) whose committees will also look at the information.

“Once they will agree which we hope will be before the end of the year, we will see a report from them that will eventually lead to request various national regulatory authorities to start looking at possibility of including the vaccine in their vaccination programmes” he said

The UNC Project Country Director said for now, the vaccine is for the children since were targeted in the trial due to frequent cases among them.

But he expressed hope that once the vaccine minimizes the problem in the children there will be another clinical trial for adults. 

“We are already in contact with sponsors about the possibility of doing this study again in adolescent and adults.” He disclosed

The positive opinion for young children was based on the review of data assessing the candidate vaccine’s safety, efficacy and quality from a Phase III clinical trial programme involving more than 16,000 young children that was conducted by 13 African research centres in eight African countries including Malawi at Area 18 Health Centre in Lilongwe.

Data from this Phase III clinical trial programme demonstrate that over the first 18 months following three doses of RTS,S, malaria cases were reduced by almost half in children aged 5-17 months at the time of first vaccination and by 27% in infants aged 6-12 weeks. 

At study end, four doses of RTS,S reduced malaria cases by 39% over four years of follow-up in children, and by 27% over three years of follow-up in infants. In areas of the highest malaria burden more than 6,000 clinical malaria cases were prevented over the study period for every 1,000 children vaccinated.