Tuberculosis (TB) cases among inmates in Malawi’s prisons have dropped by more than half in the past year, with the number of prisoners on treatment falling from about 150 to 70, the Malawi Prison Service has said.
Most of the inmates currently receiving treatment are housed in maximum-security prisons, according to the Prison Service.
Prison Service Public Relations Officer Steve Meke attributed the decline to support from partners such as EGPAF, Lighthouse, and TB Paradiso, whose interventions have largely focused on TB treatment within correctional facilities.
Despite the progress, Meke warned that treatment alone is not enough to eliminate the disease, stressing the need to strengthen early detection and prevention measures to curb further transmission.
He said the Prison Service is now calling on more partners to support TB screening, prevention, and treatment programmes across all prison facilities.
Malawi’s 29 prison stations accommodate nearly 15,000 inmates, a population size and living conditions that heighten the risk of infectious diseases.
Meke said protecting the health of inmates remains a public health priority, adding that collective action is essential to fully eliminate TB in prisons.
