Held on May 25 each year, Africa Day presents an occasion to celebrate African achievements and reflect on the challenges that continue to threaten the continent’s development and progress. Among these, vector-borne diseases remain one of the most pressing. These diseases – many of which are transmitted by mosquitoes – continue to take a devastating toll on the African region, disproportionately affecting the poorest populations. 

Globally, the majority of malaria deaths occur in children under 5 years old.  

Although major strides have been made, the fight against vector-borne diseases is far from over. Malaria continues to place an immense burden on the African continent, with the WHO African region shouldering more than 90% of the global malaria burden. Dengue fever – an arbovirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes – is also a challenge, affecting over 70,000 people across 15 African countries in 2023, and particularly impacting Burkina Faso. Countries such as Senegal and Mali also recently experienced simultaneous outbreaks of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, highlighting the need for a coordinated response to fight these diseases.  

Since warmer conditions facilitate the establishment of vectors in new regions, rising temperatures brought on by climate change are threatening to exacerbate these threats. Resistance to existing tools, such as drugs and insecticides is also undermining progress against vector-borne diseases such as malaria. In the face of these threats, innovation is critical – not to replace what is already working, but to complement and strengthen available interventions.  

But innovation is not just about technology – it’s also about reimagining systems and approaches. To date, the design and development of innovative tools to fight vector-borne diseases has largely taken place outside of Africa. At ACEME, our mission is to empower African scientists to lead the fight against vector-borne diseases. We are building a platform where researchers from across the continent can learn skills in molecular engineering and contribute to the development of new genetic tools to control vector borne diseases.  

Vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and yellow fever are more than just a public health threat – they are barriers to development, education, and economic stability. This Africa Day, we must reignite our commitment to rid the African continent of these diseases. With renewed commitment, collaboration, and innovation, we can build a healthier tomorrow and unlock the full potential of our continent.