Climate change and malaria control: a call to urgent action from Africa’s frontlines
Cyril Caminade, Diégo Ayala, Thibaud de Chevigny, Olivia Ngou, Andre Marie Tchouatieu, Florian Girond, Gildas A. Yahouédo, Corinne Merle, Emilie Pothin, Ibrahima Diouf, Emmanuel Hakizimana, Veronica Noseda, Jane Lynda Deuve, Achille-Rodrigue Couao-Zotti, Aissata Barry, Estella Manirambona, Jean-Pierre Kidwang, Julde Mauricel Matondo, Patrice Youyou, Mea Antoine Tano, Alexis Serge Aiman, Samatar Kayad Guelleh, Waberi Youssouf, Alain Mombomombo, Gladys Tsoumbou Bakana, Mohamed Binnè Camara, Christine Sandouno, Matilde Riloja Rivas, Teresa Ayingono Ondo Mifumi, Voahangy Razanakotomalala, Daouda Seydou Samake, Abdallah Amar Ely Salem, Pascal Bakamba, Davy Roméo Takpando-Le-Grand, Christel Muteba, André Ngombe Kaseba, Andrew Muhire, Clarisse Mukashema, Alphonse Mutabazi, Ibrahima Diallo, Médoune Ndiop, Mahamat Saleh Issakha Diar, Mahamat Idriss, Israel Kodindo, Payakissim Somiabalo Atekpe, Komla Dovene Kadzahlo
Abstract
In December 2024, L'Initiative-Expertise France organized a workshop in Musanze, Rwanda, for National Malaria Control and Elimination Programmes (NMC/EPs) representatives from 19 sub-Saharan African countries. The workshop focused on surveillance, modeling, climate forecasting, and innovative control methods to mitigate climate change impacts on malaria. Participants shared challenges, experiences and best practices. Key challenges highlighted include shifts in malaria transmission seasons, disease spread to mid-altitude regions, and infrastructure damage from extreme weather. Additional factors, such as drug and insecticide resistance, the spread of Anopheles stephensi, and changes in vector behaviour, are exacerbating malaria transmission in African cities. Participants stressed the need for collaborative efforts to tackle these evolving threats. This comment reflects the expertise and insights of 19 NMCPs actively managing malaria control and aims at raising awareness, inform policy discussions, and strengthen global partnerships to address the intersection of malaria and climate change.