World Mosquito Day: Why I raise millions of mosquitoes to fight malaria in Africa

On World Mosquito Day 2026, the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) is urging for increased investment in science, community education, and accurate health communication to maintain progress against malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. Despite advancements in science, the fight against these illnesses remains ongoing, as the African region still bears the brunt of the burden, accounting for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths in 2024.

Children under five are among the most affected. AMMREN highlights that mosquitoes transmit additional diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya, emphasizing the critical importance of their control for public health on the continent. Several challenges persist in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases, including insecticide resistance, shifting environmental and climate conditions, and the emergence of invasive mosquito species.

However, new tools like malaria vaccines and enhanced vector-control measures offer new possibilities in combatting malaria. AMMREN stresses that malaria should not be viewed as a relic issue, and Africa must enhance prevention efforts, adopt scientific innovations, and ensure that accurate and accessible information reaches every community.

The organization stresses that knowledge must be translated into action, and that action must safeguard lives.