West African stakeholders support technology for malaria control

A report by the Corporate Alliance on Malaria in Africa (CAMA) reveals that 95.3 per cent of stakeholders surveyed across West Africa support the increased use of technology and data-driven approaches for malaria prevention.

The survey, titled ‘From Awareness to Action: Assessing Malaria Prevention Practices Across Workplaces and Communities in Africa’, included 300 respondents from 10 West African countries. While 70 per cent strongly supported technological integration, the report identified a ‘visibility gap’: 50.7 per cent of respondents were unaware that technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital surveillance, and drones are already being utilized in malaria control.

AI-powered surveillance was cited by 41 per cent of respondents as having the greatest potential for improvement, followed by drone-based vector control at 35.7 per cent and digital reporting systems at 23.3 per cent. The report recommends focusing on demonstrating the practical application of these technologies through case studies and field demonstrations rather than simply advocating for their value.