Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of stories published by Malaria No More on behalf of the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) REACH Malaria Project, implemented by PATH. Penned in 2025, this story traces John Chiona’s journey to becoming a certified integrated community case management (iCCM) provider in the Nkhata Bay district, Malawi.   

Working in one of the country’s hardest-to-reach communities, 15 kilometers away from the nearest health facility across hilly, isolated terrain, John Chiona strives to bring essential health services closer to home. Steadfast in his commitment to improving the health of his community, the 27-year-old community health worker from the remote Cheyo catchment area of Nkhata Bay district is a shining example of the dedication and transformation in Malawi’s healthcare sector.

John’s training was limited after being recruited by the Ministry of Health as a Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA) under the Nkhata Bay District Health Office in 2024. Like many new HSAs, he only received basic, on-the-job training from a senior, more experienced HSA, with his instruction primarily focused on administering vaccines to children under five years old and completing the health information register. Though passionate and eager to serve, John felt unprepared to operate a village health clinic. Without the essential skills required to manage common childhood illnesses, John recognized he needed more training and certification to meet the broader health needs of his community. 

With limited access to training opportunities in an already overburdened health system, John had little hope of advancing his skills. However, things changed for John when he was invited to attend a comprehensive ten-day training on integrated community case management (iCCM), which ran from July 13 to July 24, 2025, organized by the PMI REACH Malaria project in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Program, the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) program, and the Nkhata Bay District Health Office. 

The iCCM training brought together a network of 90 HSAs across the Nkhata Bay and Nkhotakota districts, strengthening their knowledge and skills in managing cases of malaria and other illnesses at the community level. By providing hands-on and interactive instruction, the HSAs learned critical skills like malaria rapid diagnostic testing, identification and treatment of severe malaria, management of diarrhea and respiratory infections, early detection of acute malnutrition, community drug management, and the proper referral of critically ill children.  

John was one of only two community health workers selected for this transformative training from his catchment area. In a community where access to health services is extremely limited and the burden of malnutrition is high, these skills can be lifesaving. When asked about his experience, John noted,  

“This training opportunity is a dream come true. The training content is comprehensive and eye-opening. I will go and serve my community with confidence.”

With the Ministry of Health planning to expand iCCM services to remote areas like Cheyo, this investment could not have come at a better time. Attending the iCCM training has reignited John’s motivation as a community health provider. He now feels confident in his ability to deliver timely and effective care for children in his village and neighboring communities. His newly acquired skills will help significantly improve access to quality healthcare for the more than 3,000 people living in Cheyo catchment and surrounding areas. 

John’s story is a powerful reminder of the impact one well-trained health worker can make in a community. Thanks to the support of the U.S. government, the PMI REACH Malaria project is helping turn what once seemed like an impossible goal for Malawi’s hardest-to-reach areas into a meaningful and impactful reality for John and 89 other iCCM providers proudly serving their communities.