Students and lecturers of the NOZGEKA Master program in Malawi
© HZI/NOZGEKA
Students and lecturers of the NOZGEKA Master program in Malawi
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New Master of Science in Infectious Disease Epidemiology in Malawi well underway

First cohort recruited to Master program coordinated by HZI-led NOZGEKA consortium

An efficient global pandemic preparedness and response requires experts who are trained to perform epidemiological studies and infectious disease modelling. The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) leads the consortium NOZGEKA with the aim of establishing a Master of Science in Public Health with a focus on infectious disease epidemiology in Malawi. The University of Münster and Medical Center - University of Freiburg, and University of Livingstonia (UNILIA) and Mzuzu University (MZUNI) in Malawi are collaborators in the consortium.

On 23 May, 2025, MZUNI hosted a short course certificate celebration followed by a progress meeting on May 27, 2025. The University management of MZUNI with Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Wapulumuka Mulwafu, UNILIA with Vice Chancellor Prof. Timothy P.K. Nyasulu, NOZGEKA coordinators Dr. Berit Lange and Dr. John Nyirenda (both HZI), the head of the Public Health Institute Malawi (PHIM) Dr. Matthew Kagoli, and the CEO & Registrar of Malawi Medical Council, Dr. Davie Zolowele, reflected on the substantial progress made during the last year by the NOZGEKA consortium. 

In the DAAD-funded program NOZGEKA, Malawian (MZUNI and UNILIA) and German partners have developed and established a Master of Public Health with a focus on Infectious Disease Epidemiology. John Nyirenda and Berit Lange from the Department of Epidemiology at HZI coordinate the consortium. The aim of the Master program is to educate students with (bio)medical and public health background both for leading positions in infectious disease control in the public health system and in academia. In January 2025, a first cohort of 21 Master students was in interviews with participation of all partners from 160 applicants. They started their course in March 2025 in a collaborative Master program between MZUNI and UNILIA. 

Four core courses run on the ground by lecturers from all institutions

The core courses on “Fundamentals of Epidemiology” (Coordinated by Dr. John Nyirenda, HZI and Prof. Balwani Mbakaya, UNILIA) and “Data Management and Programming” (coordinated by Prof. Balwani Mbakaya, UNILIA  and Dr. Atipatsa Kaminga, MZUNI) were run in Malawi with online participation of HZI and University of Münster. In May and June, two modules were run in Mzuzu on “Clinical Basics of Infectious Diseases” (coordinated by Dr. Katarina Stete and Prof. Dirk Wagner, both Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Dr. Baxter Chirambo, MZUNI, and Prof. Balwani Mbakaya, UNILIA) and “Dynamics and Transmission of Infectious Diseases” (coordinated by Dr. Veronika Jäger, University of Münster, Prof. Balwani Mbakaya, UNILIA, Dr. Baxter Chirambo, MZUNI, and Berit Lange, HZI). The “Clinical Basics of Infectious Diseases” course was additionally run as a short course for professionals not currently enrolled in the Master. 

Future of the partnership

All partners agreed that now after the establishment of the Master of Infectious Disease Epidemiology the focus should be on the sustainability of the partnership. “Developing an international Master Program will require a partnership platform that encompasses clinical, public health, research and teaching collaboration,” says Berit Lange. 

Colleagues from Malawian and German institutions contributed to the courses as lecturers:

  • Fundamentals of Epidemiology: Dr. John Nyirenda, Prof. Balwani Mbakaya, Dr. Berit Lange, Prof. André Karch.
  • Data Management and Programming: Dr. Atipatsa Kaminga
  • Clinical Basics: Dr. Sinyiza, Dr. Chirwa, Dr. Chipolombwe, Dr. Baxter Chirambo, Dr. Mtika, Prof. Becker, Dr. Olga Hovardovska, Dr. Torben Heinsohn, Dr. Berit Lange, Prof. Balwani Mbakaya, Prof. Dirk Wagner, Dr. Katarina Stete.
  • Dynamics & Transmission of Infectious Diseases: Dr. Torben Heinsohn, Prof. André Karch, Prof. Balwani Mbakaya, Dr. Chirwa, Dr. Chipolombwe, Prof. Johannes Bracher, Dr. Kaminga, Lydia Kisooh, Yaw Awuku-Larbi, Antonia Bartz, Dr. Berit Lange, Dr. Veronika Jäger. 
[Translate to English:] Charlotte Schwenner

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