Accelerating malaria elimination efforts in the Sudano-Sahelian region of Africa: elucidation of factors driving transmission and unravelling the molecular basis of insecticide resistance in the major malaria vectors

Malaria remains a major killer in sub-Saharan Africa where it takes the life of a child every two minutes. Between 2000 to 2015, it is estimated that 663 million cases of malaria have been averted through vector control tools and antimalarial medications. Of this reduction, 68 per cent is attributed to the distribution of low-cost insecticide treated bed nets. However, insecticide resistance is threatening the success of vector control with fear of a reversal in the significant gains made. Knowledge of distribution of mosquito vectors, their insecticides resistance status and mechanisms driving the resistance is important to guide the choice of insecticides and management of resistance. Unfortunately, information on malaria vectors from the Sudano-Sahelian regions of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, is grossly lacking.

We intend to establish the composition, distribution and behaviours of the major malaria vectors in the Sudano-Sahelian regions of these countries; establish their insecticides’ resistance profile and identify factors driving the resistance.

The data from this study will inform the regional malaria control programmes to design and implement evidence-based malaria vector control tools. This will contribute toward the goal of reducing malaria incidence and mortality by more than 90 per cent, in line with World Health Organization projections for 2016-2030.

This grant was awarded under the scheme's previous name of Training Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine.