Climate change and malaria control in Africa: country experiences and strategic responses
Climate change is recognized as a critical determinant of malaria transmission in the coming decades. This manuscript synthesizes testimonies from six African countries (Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Rwanda, and Senegal) highlighting how climate variability has recently influenced malaria epidemiology and how national malaria control programmes (NMCPs) are adapting. The correlation between changing patterns of rainfalls, floodings, and how they affect the expansion of mosquito vector habitats with malaria transmission has been reported. Adaptive strategies adopted by the NMCPs include integrating climate and health data, strengthening surveillance and establishing early warning systems, engaging and educating communities, promoting multisectoral collaboration, and leveraging technology and innovation. However, systemic barriers, such as limited data integration capacity, infrastructural deficits, behavioural factors, and financial constraints, continue to impede effective implementation of adaptive strategies. Addressing these barriers requires sustained political commitment, enhanced technical capacity, operational and implementation research, and long-term investment in climate-resilient health systems. The findings offer valuable insights for broader regional efforts to align malaria control strategies with climate change.
Authors
- Olivia Ngou
- Israel DEMBA KODINDO
- Emmanuel Hakizimana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9386-9850)
- Diégo Ayala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4726-580X)
- Kolotioloma Alama Coulibaly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2694-3563)
- Mahamat Saleh Issakha Diar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6160-1393)
- Médoune Ndiop (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5116-0201)
- André Ngombe Kaseba
- Emilie Pothin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0800-6381)
- Andrew Muhire (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5263-2964)
- Voahangy Razanakotomalala
- Cyril Caminade (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3846-7082)
- Méa Antoine Tanoh
- Jane Lynda Deuve (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9534-7522)
- André-Marie Tchouatieu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0527-1515)
- Veronica Noseda
- Corinne Merle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4229-365X)
- Ibrahima Diouf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3157-0925)
- Alphonse Mutabazi
- Florian Girond (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3894-8505)
- Eric Fleutelot
- Alexis Serge Aimain
- Thibaud de Chevigny
- Christel Muteba
- Mahamat Idriss Djaskano
- Ibrahima Diallo
- Clarisse Mukashema
Institutions
- The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) (IT)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University of Lubumbashi (CD)
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (CH)
- Ministry of Health (KH)
- University of Basel (CH)
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FR)
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle (FR)
- Institut Universitaire d'Abidjan (CI)
- Centre Universitaire de Labé (GN)
- World Health Organization (CH)
- National Office for Sanitation of Senegal (SN)
- National Application Center for Pharmaceutical Research (MG)
- Société de Développement des Forêts (CI)
- Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (KH)
- Institut Pasteur de Madagascar (MG)
- Sidaction (FR)
- Ministry of Health (BB)
- Rwanda Biomedical Center (RW)
- Ministry of Health (RW)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (CH)
- Cheikh Anta Diop University (SN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Malaria Journal
- Published
- 2026-04-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05885-1
- Primary Topic
- Malaria Research and Control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00