CIHEB Initiative

🧪🤝 As we begin 2026, CIHEB Initiative reflects on a year of consolidation, delivery, and learning.

Over the past year, through AMPLIFY 2.0, with support from PEPFAR through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CIHEB Initiative worked alongside the Ministry Of Health - Malawi, Public Health Institute of Malawi, and partners to enhance Malawi’s laboratory and diagnostic systems, supporting quality improvement, workforce capacity, and continuity of essential services. These efforts contributed to stronger national systems and more reliable access to diagnostics for communities across the country.

This progress is grounded in partnership, local leadership, and accountability. We are grateful to our donors, the Government of Malawi, implementing partners, and laboratory professionals whose collaboration and trust continue to shape our work.

Looking ahead to 2026, CIHEB Initiative remains committed to making an impact, strengthening lab systems, and positioning local health experts at the centre of Malawi’s public health response.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Ciheb Global leaders from Tanzania, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia gathered in , MD for the annual meeting at the Institute of Human Virology .

Joined by colleagues from across the network, the team spent the week strengthening collaboration for the year ahead. The meeting also included a special moment of celebration as attendees witnessed the investiture of Manhattan E. Charurat, PhD, MHS, Director of Global, as the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The gathering highlighted Ciheb Global’s commitment to improving the human condition globally, safeguarding communities against health-related threats, and promoting health outcomes worldwide.

CIHEB Initiative Ciheb Kenya Ciheb-Zambia UMB-Ciheb Nigeria

#𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐒𝐃𝐚𝐲 provides an opportunity to reflect on progress in the HIV response and to reaffirm the collective commitment to ensuring continued access to essential services. It is also a moment to recognize the contribution of health workers, communities, and partners who support HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care.

Under AMPLIFY 2.0, CIHEB Initiative continues to strengthen Malawi’s laboratory network to deliver timely and high-quality HIV viral load (VL) testing across 14 molecular laboratories. 𝑬𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒅 𝑽𝑳 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑯𝑰𝑽 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘-𝒖𝒑. This work contributes to Malawi’s efforts to achieve and sustain viral suppression and highlights the importance of reliable laboratory systems in effective HIV care.

With support from PEPFAR through CDC, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, CIHEB Initiative remains focused on improving diagnostic quality, building laboratory capacity, and supporting the use of accurate data for patient management.

On #𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐒𝐃𝐚𝐲, CIHEB Initiative joins partners in recognizing the ongoing efforts across Malawi and globally to expand access to high-quality HIV services and to work toward the goal of an AIDS-free generation.

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Quality Testing That Supports Malawi’s Fight Against AMR

CIHEB Initiative continues to strengthen Malawi’s laboratory systems, helping protect communities today and support a healthier future. With support from through CDC, CIHEB Initiative supported laboratories at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Mzuzu Central Hospital, Rumphi District Hospital and Zomba Central Hospital in October 2025, helping them maintain ISO 15189:2022 accreditation, demonstrating sustained high testing quality.

These efforts highlight CIHEB Initiative’s role in helping Malawi act now against AMR.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐈𝐕 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞:

𝑪𝑰𝑯𝑬𝑩 𝑰𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 is strengthening Malawi’s laboratory network to provide high-quality HIV viral load testing, the global standard for monitoring HIV treatment effectiveness. HIV viral suppression shows that treatment is working and lowers the risk of failure. Consistent monitoring enables health professionals to:
• Assess treatment effectiveness
• Provide timely adherence support
• Make informed decisions on treatment adjustments

By maintaining effective ART and preventing the emergence of drug-resistant HIV, strong laboratory systems contribute directly to controlling antimicrobial resistance. This supports this year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week theme: “𝑨𝒄𝒕 𝑵𝒐𝒘: 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑭𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆.”

With support from The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 𝑪𝑰𝑯𝑬𝑩 𝑰𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 continues to strengthen access to reliable HIV viral load testing across Malawi, supporting people on treatment to stay healthy today while safeguarding the effectiveness of HIV medicines for tomorrow.

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In September 2025, the CIHEB Initiative trained 262 healthcare workers — including nurses, clinicians, and laboratory officers — from 12 districts on collection, processing, and transportation of plasma samples for HIV viral load testing.

This training enhances the quality and efficiency of Malawi’s diagnostic network, ensuring that laboratory results are accurate, timely, and reliable to guide patient management. By building the capacity of frontline health professionals, CIHEB Initiative is helping sustain high-quality HIV testing services and strengthen the national HIV response.

Through the AMPLIFY 2.0 project funded by The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through CDC, the has supported the Ministry Of Health - Malawi in processing over 600,000 HIV viral load tests since October 2024.

These tests are critical for monitoring treatment effectiveness — helping to identify individuals who are responding well to antiretroviral therapy and those who need treatment support or regimen changes. By ensuring timely results and data-driven care, this milestone has helped improve health outcomes, reduce HIV transmission, and strengthen Malawi’s national HIV response.

We have been fully engaged between yesterday and today at the CIHEB Initiative Financial Year 2026 (FY26) Planning Meeting for AMPLIFY 2.0, centered around the theme “Programming for Sustainability and Transition.”

Through dynamic sessions, our team is refining the FY26 work plan and budget, enhancing program frameworks, and aligning strategies to fuel long-term sustainability. These conversations go beyond planning—they are about shaping resilient health systems and securing lasting impact for communities across Malawi.

Together, we are driving momentum toward stronger, more resilient health systems that deliver results today and sustain progress for generations to come. 🌍✨

We were pleased to join the Malawi LabCoP country team last week for the annual viral load (VL), early infant diagnosis (EID), and TB assessment exercise.

Using the WHO VL/EID/TB tool and LabCoP’s self-assessment tool, stakeholders worked together to review progress, identify gaps, and shape interventions that will strengthen HIV, EID, VL, and TB testing services for improved patient outcomes.

👏 We value the strong collaboration with the Public Health Institute of Malawi Ministry Of Health - Malawi, Ministry of Health Diagnostics, TB and HIV programs, African Society for Laboratory Medicine, Clinton Health Access Initiative and R4H.

🌍 Scaling Up Plasma Testing for Stronger HIV Response in Malawi

Since the introduction of HIV viral load (VL) testing in Malawi, it has been predominantly performed on dried blood spot samples due to health system gaps that made it challenging to use plasma samples, the gold standard. As limitations in sample collection, transportation, and processing have been addressed, the proportion of VL tests performed on plasma samples has increased from 13% in 2021 to 30% in 2024.

Through the AMPLIFY 2.0 project, funded by The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through CDC, CIHEB Initiative is working hand in hand with the Ministry Of Health - Malawi to expand plasma testing capacity further by:

✅ Training 262 Ministry of Health staff in 2025 in plasma sample collection, handling, and processing — building skills and ensuring quality at the facility level.
✅ Supporting the development of 28 district hospitals as plasma processing hubs, improving efficiency and timely sample flow to molecular labs.
✅ Procuring critical ancillary laboratory equipment and supplies to support sustained service delivery.

📈 The impact is clear: The expanded access to viral load testing on plasma samples has improved the accuracy of test results. This leads to better care and improves the tracking of viral suppression for the UNAIDS' 95-95-95 targets. 💪

🌍 World Patient Safety Day 2025
Theme: “Safe care for every newborn and every child”
This World Patient Safety Day, CIHEB Initiative joins the Ministry Of Health - Malawi and partners in making care safer for every child in Malawi.

🧪 Through the AMPLIFY 2.0 Project (funded by The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through CDC, CIHEB Initiative is:
✅ Supporting early infant diagnosis (EID) of HIV for the timely detection and treatment of HIV-exposed infants.
✅ Strengthening laboratory systems to deliver accurate, reliable, and timely test results.
✅ Reducing HIV viral load turnaround time, enabling faster, life-saving decisions.
✅ Training Ministry of Health staff and equipping laboratories to expand plasma-based testing of HIV viral load — the gold standard for monitoring.
✅ Promoting strong biosafety and biosecurity practices to protect patients, staff, and communities while ensuring safe handling of specimens.

When children get the right test results at the right time, they get the right care from the very start — and that saves lives.
💛 Patient safety starts with strong labs.
💛 Strong labs mean healthier children and stronger communities.

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