This certification marks a significant success in the global fight against malaria, which requires a country to demonstrate three consecutive years without indigenous malaria transmission. The achievement is attributed to innovative public health strategies, medical advancements, and international collaboration.
Malaria is caused by a Plasmodium parasite transmitted by the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. According to the WHO, there are five Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans, with two species – P. falciparum and P. vivax – posing the greatest threat.
Despite progress in some countries, malaria continues to pose a significant threat, particularly in Africa, where it accounts for 94% of all malaria cases and 95% of deaths. The disease is re-emerging in many parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
To combat malaria, technology is playing an increasingly crucial role. Innovative solutions, such as the use of drones to survey and spray bioinsecticides over breeding sites, are being explored. Digital platforms, such as Lomis, Plainfield, CommCare, and RedRose, are being utilized to support logistics management, field logistics planning, data collection, and real-time monitoring and evaluation of malaria programs.
A Lagos-based tech consultant, Solomon Nwadike, highlighted the crucial roles new technology could play in fighting against the spread of malaria. "One of the key ways to combat malaria is to track how it's spreading. For you to know the prevalence of a disease, you first have to trace where it is coming from and map out the areas where it holds sway."
Last month, a Chinese firm developed a laser device that claims the ability to kill up to 30 mosquitoes each second. The gadget, called Photon Matrix, uses high-specification LiDAR technology to identify and neutralize mosquitoes.
The Chief Executive Officer of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, Dr. Michael Charles, noted that there are many innovations happening in the space of malaria elimination. "New nets and medications are being developed, and there is also the laser mosquito killer, which is a device that uses visuals and acoustic recognition to determine where the mosquito is and where it's flying."
Dr. Charles highlighted the role of genetically modified mosquitoes as another example of how modern science and technology have provided tools to combat malaria. "This involves altering the genetic makeup of mosquitoes to reduce their ability to transmit malaria or to suppress their population altogether."
The use of digital tools to control malaria has great potential, but it may face technical and implementation challenges, as well as limitations in reaching citizens in rural areas. Dr. Adewunmi Adeola, a medical practitioner, emphasized the need for proper awareness and trust in science.
Dr. Charles advised health agencies to ensure that tech solutions are safe, culturally appropriate, and aligned with public health goals. He also urged tech partners to accelerate development timelines, introduce precision tools, and offer adaptive solutions that evolve with changing transmission dynamics.
Ultimately, partnerships between health and tech sectors are essential for tackling malaria. Investing in such collaboration is a smart, forward-looking move for global health.