By Jones Anlimah
The African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) is calling for renewed investment in science, innovation and accurate public information to sustain progress in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases across Africa.
The call forms part of AMMREN’s message to mark World Mosquito Day 2026, with the organisation warning that malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases continue to pose a significant public health threat on the continent.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa accounted for 94 percent of global malaria cases and 95 percent of malaria deaths in 2024, with children under five among the most affected.
Beyond malaria, mosquitoes also transmit diseases including dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya, making effective mosquito control an important component of public health protection.
AMMREN says emerging challenges, including insecticide resistance, changing environmental and climatic conditions, and the spread of invasive mosquito species, are complicating efforts to control mosquito-borne diseases.
The organisation, however, noted that advances in science are providing new opportunities, including malaria vaccines and improved vector-control interventions.
AMMREN’s Executive Secretary, Dr Charity Binka, said scientific progress must be matched with effective communication to ensure communities can benefit from new interventions.
“We must keep the science moving, but we must also ensure that people are not left behind. Accurate information is a powerful tool for prevention,” she said.
AMMREN is therefore urging governments, researchers, health professionals, the media and communities to sustain investment in research and innovation to strengthen disease surveillance and develop effective tools against evolving mosquito-borne disease threats.
It is also calling for communities to be placed at the centre of prevention efforts by ensuring that people have the knowledge, tools and support required to protect themselves and seek timely medical care.
The organisation further stressed the need to make accurate, evidence-based health communication a core component of disease prevention and control.
AMMREN said the fight against mosquito-borne diseases should not be regarded as a challenge of the past, stressing that Africa must protect the gains made while embracing emerging scientific solutions.
It said translating scientific knowledge into practical action would be critical to protecting lives and ensuring that no community is left behind.
