Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health

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The Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Theme is a collaborative network of scientists at MLW and associated institutions, working together to support each other and enhance our research on mothers, neonates, children, and adolescents.

The theme’s vision is:

To conduct high quality research to ensure every mother, baby and child have the opportunity for healthy lives; enabling a healthier community and society
To build sustainable capacity for maternal, neonatal and child health research in Malawi and the region
Inform policy and practice across low resource settings to improve maternal, neonatal and child health

Mercy Nkhandwe Munthali

Maternal Health Group Administrator

My key roles involve “Liaison”, “Organisation” and “Support”. Each day I come to work, presents me an opportunity to work with an excellent team of researchers who encourage me to do my very best to equally deliver excellence. My job is dynamic and very exciting as I work with various teams conducting various studies within the group.

Vita Nyasulu

Laboratory Technician

Has worked on CRYPTOFAZ study, which was evaluating the effectiveness of Clofazimine in diarrheic individuals caused by Cryptosporidium. He is currently working on the BAMBI and DIPLO-STI studies, which are investigating maternal risk factors and biomarkers for prediction of early onset of neonatal infection and the epidemiology and contribution of STIs to adverse birth outcomes in Malawi. He holds a BSc. in Biomedical Sciences, obtained from Mzuzu University in 2014.

Yamikani Mbilizi Chimwaza

PhD Student

A PhD student pursuing a career as a maternal health intervention specialist in the global maternal health field. I graduated from the University of Malawi College of Medicine with a medical degree and a master's in public health from the Johns Hopkins University School of Public

Jenny Riches

PhD Student/Fellow –

I am an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist currently undertaking my PhD in Global Maternal Health. My PhD focuses on interventions to reduce infection at the time of Caesarean section, determining global priorities for maternal sepsis research in resource-constrained settings and understanding the causes of maternal death in Malawi. I feel strongly that each and every woman should have a safe and dignified peripartum experience.

Chifundo Kondoni

Senior Research Nurse

A Nurse Midwife by profession working as a Senior Research Nurse for the Maternal Health Group at MLW.

Deborah Phiri

Data Manager

I hold a Master of Science in Informatics and Bachelor Science in Computer Science both obtained at the University of Malawi Chancellor College. I have over 5 years of experience in research data management. I have special interest in Data Science, as a health informatics professional I am passionate about data management to deliver valuable insights via data analytics and use of advanced computational techniques to improve my day-to-day work.

Professor David Lissauer

MBChB, BMedSci, PhD, MRCOG, NIHR Professor of Global Maternal and Fetal Health Women's & Children's Health and Maternal Health Group Lead

David is NIHR Professor of Global Maternal and Fetal Health. He is resident in Malawi, working at the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust research institute. He is a sub-specialist in maternal and fetal medicine, and practices clinically at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.

Fatima Mtonga

Laboratory Intern

Currently working as an intern under Diplo-STI study which is investigating the prevalence of STIs in women who attend QECH for delivery of their infants and to assess the attributable fraction of adverse birth outcomes with a confirmed diagnosis of at least one STI in peripartum period. She holds an honors degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences obtained at the University of Malawi, College of Medicine, 2021. Her long-term goal is to purse a MSc in Tropical Disease Biology.

Charlotte van der Veer

Post-doctoral Biomedical Researcher

My work focuses on the microbiological aspects of maternal and neonatal health and disease. I obtained my PhD from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands during which time I specialized in molecular epidemiology, diagnostics, and microbiome analyses with particular focus on sexually transmitted infections.

Dr. Luis Gadama

Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Senior Lecturer Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Scientific lead for the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Malawi