22 February 2014, Lilongwe,Malawi: Dr Eugene Appiah Nyarko, the new WHO Representative (WR) to Malawi, on 28 January 2014 presented his credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Honorable Ephraim Ng’ande Chiume MP, at the Minister’s Capital Hill office. Dr. Nyarko, served in the Republic of Botswana prior to his new assignment in Malawi.

Honorable Ephraim Chiume MP expressed his pleasure for the arrival of Dr. Eugene Nyarko in Malawi and noted that he was looking forward to WHO’s continued technical support to the health sector which is currently experiencing a number of challenges. ‘Dr. Nyarko, I am happy to officially welcome you and receive your credentials today. You have come at the right time because, as you might already know, our health system is facing a number of challenges, such as shortage of health personnel and other resources,’ the Minister said.

He continued to explain to the new WR about the financial problems that the country is facing currently due to the fact that most of the major donors have withheld their financial support as a result of a recent financial scandal that revealed grave mismanagement of government funds by some civil servants; a situation which is still under investigation. ‘We are currently working hard to win back the confidence of the donors. We have to work together in partnership through dialogue to put in place a governance system that is accountable and transparent,’ the Minister told Dr. Nyarko.

In his response the WR reassured the Minister of WHO’s commitment to work with his Government in the best way possible to address those challenges within her (WHO’s) mandate, drawing on the rich and vast technical expertise across all levels of the organization. Dr. Nyarko further noted that some health problems often originate or have determinants in other sectors outside of the health sector and so in addressing them Government should adopt a “health-in-all-sectors” approach in order to mount a comprehensive response. He reaffirmed that “WHO will continue to provide the technical support needed to ensure that the health and wellbeing of the people of Malawi remains high on the development agenda of all relevant stakeholders within and outside government, and thereby work in harmony to achieve the national health goals, including the health related MDGs”.

Dr. Eugene Nyarko further touched on the on-going challenges facing the human-resource-for-health situation, notably shortage of medical doctors, in the country. A case in point which has been brought to his attention concerns the 52 UN Volunteer doctors whose contracts end this year and the gap this is going to leave in the health care delivery system, thus prompting the need for a long-term sustainability strategy/plan to build capacity and retain local doctors and other health professionals in the country.

The Honorable Minister was very pleased to learn that the WR has the critical health issues currently facing the country on his fingertips and will work with the Government to address them. He assured Dr. Nyarko of the Government’s commitment to facilitate the work of WHO and other partners in order to uplift the health and wellbeing of the citizens of the country.

Their meeting concluded with a warm handshake and the presentation of Dr. Nyarko’s Credentials to the Honorable Minister, an attestation of the continued collaboration and technical cooperation between WHO and the Government of Malawi.
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