The goal of eliminating malaria by 2030 is in jeopardy

 


Africa could see 554,000 additional malaria deaths due to climate change, unless urgent action is taken.

Innovation must match the scale of the malaria crisis


Despite widespread use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), many regions continue to suffer high malaria burdens due to insecticide resistance and environmental factors that reduce the effectiveness of these tools.


In Burkina Faso, for example, malaria remains the leading cause of death among young children, despite major investments in control programs.


That’s why scientists and public health experts are urgently turning to next-generation technologies to complement traditional approaches.


One promising innovation is gene drive technology. Not-for-profit research consortium, Target Malaria, is developing gene drive technology, a type of genetic modification, to reduce the population of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes and reduce the transmission of the disease. 


“Gene drive isn’t a silver bullet, but we hope that it could dramatically cut transmission by reducing the number of female mosquitoes, the Anopheles mosquito, which bites and spreads malaria,” says Patric Epopa. 


Mathematical modelling studies suggest that gene drive could significantly reduce mosquito populations, particularly in West Africa, if integrated into national malaria strategies.


“Now more than ever, we need bold tools and local innovation to stay ahead of this disease,” adds Patric Epopa. “African governments must also embed malaria control into broader systems, like primary healthcare, gender equity, and climate resilience if we want lasting impact.”


Without bold action now, the vision of a malaria-free Africa by 2030 may become another missed milestone.

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