In the face of threats including insecticide resistance, along with plateauing funding for the malaria fight, we must be more strategic in our use of current and future tools.
Now, countries across the continent are embracing a new approach—one that uses high-quality data to select the optimal combination of tools for a local setting. These strategies help countries maximize the impact of limited resources to put Africa on an accelerated path to ending malaria for good.
Malaria transmission varies considerably across the continent and within countries. Consider Mozambique, a country ranked among the top four globally for malaria cases and deaths. In the northern provinces, malaria prevalence soars up to 57 per cent. Conversely, the southern part of the country is on a path to malaria elimination, with only one per cent prevalence.
This striking contrast within a single nation underscores the critical need to tailor interventions based on the local setting. Blanket approaches spread precious resources too thin, leaving high-risk areas vulnerable and low-risk areas with tools that could be better used in other locations.