The Fight Against Corona Virus in Malawi: A Review of Challenges and Opportunities in the Health Sector

Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) is a pandemic that has affected the whole w=orld. Malawi has also been greatly overwhelmed by the pandemic as shown by the increased number of confirmed cases, increased deaths and increased number of people affected by the pandemic directly and indirectly. This review was aimed at exploring challenges and opportunities faced by the health sector due to the COVID- 19 pandemic in Malawi. A review of relevant published literature, official documents and available COVID-19 general information was done using online search engines such as Google scholar. The review showed that the pandemic’s complete eradication is faced with a number of challenges ranging from limited test kits and centres to stigmatization of COVID-19 suspects. Reports of lack of test kits and PPE in public hospitals have been common knowledge since the first wave in April 2020. Stigmatization and misinformation has led to public denial of the disease, consequently resulting in late reporting at hospitals by patients hence many deaths. Conversely, the pandemic has kept the country’s medical and public health personnel actively involved in research and literature review in order to understand COVID-19. This is evidenced by science based information regarding the disease passed on to the general public by the health sector. While the pandemic has put the world medical research and vaccine development teams in top gear, local health personnel have ably analyzed different vaccine options which has enabled them to advise government. Health facilities have also amassed substantial infrastructure, financial and human resources from both public and private sectors. These resources will further propel public health care since they are in form of additional beds space, beds, and COVID-19 relevant medical equipment. COVID-19 devastation in Malawi points to the need for better health care preparedness against future pandemics Key-words: COVID-19, Stigmatisation, Health Facilities, Pandemic, Malawi, Review

A Review of Research on Cryptogams of Malawi for the Past 30 years (1987-2016): Progress, Challenges and Way Forward

Cryptogams are a unique group of plants whose ecological role in ecosystems is indisputable. Cryptogams are a key determinant of ecosystem biogeochemistry and known to support above ground biomass, control soil chemistry, provide habitats to nitrogen fixing bacteria and provide are food to other organisms. Compared with higher plants, cryptogams remain the least studied in Malawi and globally. This review aimed at assessing the scope and extent of research on Malawi‟s cryptogams, existing challenges and opportunities. A review of published literature between 1987 and 2016 was done using online search engines and library sources. This review showed that algae and bryophytes are comparatively well-studied groups represented by 70 percent (%) of all literature on cryptogams, particularly in Lake Malawi and Mulanje Mountain respectively. The ferns are the least studied, comprising just 15% of the reviewed literature. Further, no traceable study of lichens was encountered. Cryptogam research in Malawi is thus limited. This limitation could be due to lack of expertise in the field, limited laboratory infrastructure capacity and a general lack of appreciation for their importance. Considering the threat the different ecosystem in Malawi face, it is recommended that; local expertise, participation and infrastructure be improved so as to enhance cryptogam research in Malawi. Such an approach would ensure an increased local awareness of the value of cryptogams and foster informed conservation prioritization for cryptogams in Malawi. Keywords: Cryptograms, challenges, conservation, research gaps, Malaw

Levels and spatial distribution of heavy metals in Lake Chilwa Catchment, Southern Malawi

The aim of this study was to assess the levels and distribution of heavy metals in Lake Chilwa and its catchment, and to understand the associated level of pollution. Water and sediment samples were collected from the lake and main inflowing rivers. A total of 23 surface water samples were sampled and analysed for pH, EC, Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, As and Hg. Conductivity and pH were measured on-site with a Hanna portable multi meter, while metals were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). The pH was found within the alkaline range (7.87-10.13), while conductivity ranged from 97-390μS/cm. The following metals were detected in the water samples; Zn (6.24–1168.70 μg/L), Cu (BDL–47.83 μg/L), Pb (BDL–49.94 μg/L), Cr (0.22–33.05 μg/L), Ni (0.40–8.20 μg/L) and Cd (BDL–0.53 μg/L). Hg and As were not detected in all sampling locations. Strong positive correlations were observed between Cd and Pb (r = 0.70), Cu and Zn (r = 0.70), while Cd and Ni (r = 0.50), Pb and Ni (r = 0.41) showed mild correlations, suggesting similar sources of input. Sediments were sampled from 2 locations in the lake and the following metals were detected; Zn (66.13 mg/Kg), Pb (7.74 mg/Kg), Ni (35.39 mg/Kg), Cu (20.02 mg/Kg), Cr (54.81 mg/Kg) and As (1.0 mg/Kg). Mercury and arsenic were not detected from both sampling locations. The heavy metal pollution index ranged from 2.24 to 114.45. All points except Kachulu harbour had values far below the critical pollution index value of 100. The values observed were well below the tolerable limits recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard for potable water, except for Pb at Kachulu Bay (P19) which was above the limit. Concentrations of the metals in the rivers were low upstream and increased downstream. Highest values for most of the elements were observed from the lake. Though levels are low now, the persistent and cumulative properties of these elements would render them unsafe in the near future if proper controls are not enforced.Keywords: Heavy metals, Lake Chilwa, Water pollution, Water qualit

Land Use Impacts on Water Quality of Rivers draining from Mulanje Mountain: A Case of Ruo River in the Southern Malawi

A research study was carried out to determine the effects of different land uses on the water quality of Ruo River. Water sampling was done both in the upper and the middle sections of the river. The water samples were analysed for pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), sulphates, chloride, bicarbonates, nitrates, phosphates, fluoride, sodium, potassium, cadmium and Escherichia coli using standard methods. Land uses in the area significantly affected the concentration of EC, TDS, sulphates, potassium and sodium (p ≤ 0.05) while pH, dissolved oxygen, chloride, bicarbonates, nitrates, phosphates and E-coli did not significantly fluctuate with land use changes in the area (p ≥ 0.05). The effect of seasons was significant on pH, dissolved oxygen, phosphates, chloride, bicarbonates and sodium (p ≤ 0.05) but not on electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, sulphates, nitrates, lead, potassium and e coli in Ruo River. The research recommends an integrated water resources management approach where all users and relevant stakeholders should take an active role in the conservation of Ruo River catchment in order to avoid further degradation of the catchment through different land uses.Keywords: Ruo River; Mulanje Mountain; Land use changes; Water quality; smallholder farmers; Estate farmer

Genetic diversity and structure of potamodromous Opsaridium microlepis (Günther) populations in the inlet rivers of Lake Malawi

Studies were carried out to determine the genetic diversity and structure of endangered Opsaridium microlepis (Mpasa) populations in the affluent rivers of Lake Malawi; Linthipe, Bua, Dwangwa and North Rukuru. A total of 200 DNA samples of O. microlepis from four river populations were analyzed at 20 microsatellite loci. The primers’ discriminating power was high (mean PIC, 0.76) yielding a total of 295 alleles with a range of 10-22 and an average of 15 alleles per locus. All the populations were not in Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium probably due to outbreeding that leads to heterozygosity excess. This observation was further supported by heterozygosity excess exhibited by 100% of the population-locus combinations (mean FIS, -0.30) and lack of  evidence for genetic bottleneck. The populations exhibited high genetic diversity as evidenced by high mean Shannon information Index (I=1.64) and high observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.98). Genetic relationships among the populations appear to be less  influenced by geographical distance (Mantel’s statistics Z, 0.18; p = 0.6369) implying that the populations do not fit into the  isolation by distance model. Nevertheless, the populations are highly differentiated (FST = 0.17; AMOVA among populations = 16%). This is supported by inter-deme migration of less than one individual per generation (Nm=0.91) as determined by Slatkin’ private allele method. Therefore, these populations are probably still large and distinct requiring separate monitoring  and management due to inferred restricted gene flow and considerable population differentiation.Keywords: Mpasa, Lake Malawi, population structure, genetic diversity, microsatellites, threatened species, conservation

Potential of genetics for aquaculture development in Africa

Aquaculture in Africa is fairly insignificant by world standards and accounts for a mere 0.4 per cent of global aquaculture production. The application of genetics can play an important role in efforts to increase aquaculture production in Africa through methods such as selective breeding, hybridization, chromosome manipulation and use of YY “supermales”. Other issues that need to be addressed are limited genetic research facilities, funding, human capacity and suitable species for aquaculture