Building EECC Capacity in Malawi: First Training Completed at Nkhoma Mission Hospital
As EECC continues to spread across Africa, Nkhoma Mission Hospital in Malawi joined the growing network of institutions equipping healthcare workers with the skills needed to identify and care for critically ill patients.
Over three days, 22 healthcare workers from across the hospital came together to develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to identify critical illness early and provide essential life-saving care. Participants included nurses, clinical officers, anaesthetists, a family medicine resident, and nursing leaders working across departments including paediatrics, maternity, theatre, intensive care, outpatient services, and medical wards.
The training was led by a multidisciplinary faculty drawn from Nkhoma Mission Hospital alongside external facilitators from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and Partners in Hope Hospital. This mix of local ownership and external support reflects the collaborative approach that is helping EECC spread across Africa.
A key strength of the course was its focus on practical application. Alongside lectures, participants took part in skills stations and guided simulations, allowing them to practise recognising critical illness, prioritising patients based on vital signs and danger signs, and delivering timely interventions. These interactive elements were particularly well received, with many participants requesting even more time for practical sessions and simulations in future courses.
A guided simulation session
The impact on knowledge was clear. Participants completed a 32-question assessment before and after the course, with results showing substantial improvements across the group.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Ninety percent of participants said the course fully achieved its objective of providing the knowledge and skills needed to deliver EECC, while 100% said they would recommend the training to fellow healthcare workers.
Comments included:
"Well organised, easy to digest content."
"We learned a lot that will help us in treating patients."
"Very good content which can be applied to all departments in the hospital to promote good patient outcomes."
Successful course participants at Nkhoma Mission Hospital
The training was made possible due to an earlier EECC training in Malawi on 2nd to 4th December 2025, organised by Dr. Rodwelll Gundo, hosted at the Kamzitu Central Hospital and funded by the Life Support Foundation. The EECC training model is designed to be multiplied, with previous participants supporting future courses and helping build a growing community of trainers and champions.
As EECC continues to expand across Africa, initiatives such as this demonstrate how local leadership, practical training, and a commitment to improving care can help ensure that critically ill patients receive the essential interventions they need, wherever they are treated.
Congratulations to the Nkhoma Mission Hospital team on this important milestone, and thank you to all the facilitators, participants, and supporters who made the training possible.