Programmes
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Health promotion in the Malawi Health Sector Strategic Plan The Malawi Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) 2011-2016 and the accompanying Essential Health Package (EHP) has prioritised public health, including health promotion, disease prevention and community participation. The initial focus of the EHP was on reducing infant and under five mortality and keeping their mothers alive, reducing the risk of HIV to mitigate the enormous impact on human resources and productivity and reducing population growth; all of which are essential for attaining broad based economic growth. The EHP has been expanded to take into account lifestyle diseases (such as diabetes, hypertension), accidents associated with excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse, mental illness and cancers. The Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) The Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) has identified a number of risk factors and major causes of diseases as indicated in the table below: Leading 10 selected factors & diseases or injuries Malawi |
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Top 10 risk factor |
Top 10 diseases |
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Risk |
Risk factor |
% of total |
Rank |
Disease |
%of deaths |
|
1 |
Unsafe sex |
34.1 |
1 |
HIV/AIDS |
33.6 |
|
2 |
Childhood and maternal underweight |
16.5 |
2 |
Lower Respiratory Infections |
11.3 |
|
3 |
Unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene |
6.7 |
3 |
Malaria |
7.8 |
|
4 |
Zinc deficiency |
4.9 |
4 |
Diarrhoeal diseases |
7.6 |
|
5 |
Vitamin A deficiency |
4.8 |
5 |
Conditions arising from perinatal conditions |
3.2 |
|
6 |
Indoor smoke from solid fuels |
4.8 |
6 |
Cerebrovascular disease |
2.8 |
|
7 |
High blood pressure |
3.5 |
7 |
Ischaemic heart disease |
2.6 |
|
8 |
Alcohol |
2.0 |
8 |
Tuberculosis |
2.4 |
|
9 |
Tobacco |
1.5 |
9 |
RTA |
1.3 |
|
10 |
Iron deficiency |
1.3 |
10 |
Protein energy malnutrition |
1.0 |
The Essential Health Package (EHP)
The Essential Health Package (EHP) contains thirteen major causes of ill health and death and outlined below is as listed in the HSSP 2011-2016.