By Samira Larbie
The world on Saturday, April 25, marked World Malaria Day 2026, with health experts calling for smarter and intensified action to eliminate the disease, including renewed focus on Larval Source Management (LSM) as a critical complementary strategy.
World Malaria Day is observed annually on April 25. It is a global health awareness initiative led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness about malaria, promote prevention, and support efforts to eliminate the disease.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. It remains a major public health challenge, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
This year’s theme: “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must,” highlights the urgency of renewed commitment. Countries, including Ghana, have recorded significant declines in infections and deaths, but continue to face persistent structural and environmental challenges.
Health experts have, therefore, recommended Larval Source Management, which targets mosquito breeding sites such as standing water, preventing larvae from developing into biting adults.
When combined with tools such as insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying, LSM offers a powerful approach, particularly in urban areas where breeding sites are easier to identify and manage.
The urgency is evident as Ghana recorded about 4.4 million malaria cases in 2024, with an incidence rate of roughly 196 cases per 1,000 people at risk.
Despite the high burden, deaths have dropped significantly to fewer than 100 nationwide, reflecting major progress in control efforts.
Health officials also reported a dramatic long-term decline, with malaria deaths reduced by up to 97 per cent over the past decade, alongside falling hospital admissions and outpatient cases.
Dr Fiona Braka, the WHO Country Representative, said the gains were under threat from evolving challenges, including climate change, environmental shifts, and population movement, which were expanding malaria risk zones.
She highlighted additional concerns such as insecticide resistance, changing mosquito behaviour, and the spread of invasive species like Anopheles stephensi.
“Optimising integrated vector management will be critical to achieving the 2030 health targets,” she said, stressing the importance of data-driven, evidence-based interventions, including LSM.
Globally and regionally, vector control remains the backbone of malaria prevention, accounting for over half of all deaths averted in the past 25 years and preventing an estimated 1.22 billion cases and 3.5 million deaths in Africa since 2000.
This progress has been driven partly by initiatives such as the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, a multi-stakeholder platform that has coordinated the large-scale deployment of bed nets, treatments, and prevention strategies since its launch in 1998.
However, experts warn that progress has slowed due to funding gaps, resistance, and uneven access to interventions.
At a high-level regional stakeholder dialogue in Accra, participants emphasised that LSM must be strategically targeted, particularly in areas where mosquito breeding sites are “few, fixed and findable.”
Dr Paul Hilarius Kosi Abiwu, Programme Manager of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Ghana Health Service, cautioned that without clear integration into national strategies, implementation risked becoming inefficient and unsustainable.
Financing remains a major concern. While indoor residual spraying is effective, rising costs and shifting donor priorities are limiting its scale.
LSM, though promising, also required sustained investment in mapping, surveillance, and operations, he said.
Dr Gideon Sogbey of Zoomlion Ghana underscored the importance of domestic ownership and private sector engagement.
“Malaria elimination cannot rely solely on donor funding,” he said. “Government commitment, private sector participation, and long-term financing are essential.
He called for comprehensive mapping of breeding sites, cross-district coordination, and robust monitoring systems, urging industries in high-risk areas to integrate malaria control into their core operations.
Technology is increasingly shaping the response. Tools such as drone mapping, artificial intelligence, and real-time monitoring systems are improving the identification and tracking of breeding sites.
However, experts caution that technology must be matched with strong programme management and continuous use of data.
Urbanisation is also changing malaria control dynamics. In many cities, lower use of bed nets and resistance to indoor spraying make LSM a more acceptable and less intrusive alternative, focusing on environmental management rather than household interventions.
As Ghana and other countries push towards elimination, stakeholders agree that success will depend on strategic clarity, strong partnerships, and sustained investment.
As Ghana joins the rest of the global community to commemorate World Malaria Day 2026, the message is clear: progress is real, but ending malaria will require smarter strategies, stronger collaboration, and decisive action now.
