How drone technology can be deployed to combat Malaria in Africa

Africa has long been battling the scourge of malaria, a disease that claims the lives of over 384,000 people on the continent annually. Despite efforts to control the disease through measures like distributing bed nets and residual spraying in households, the World Health community has largely resigned to the idea of eradicating malaria. However, Michael Ben-Aharon, the Vice President of Partnerships and Growth at ZAP, is spearheading a revolutionary approach utilizing drone technology to combat malaria in Africa. In a recent interview with CNBC Africa, Ben-Aharon highlighted the transformative potential of drones in shifting the focus from control to eradication of the disease. By precisely targeting and eliminating mosquito breeding sites, the key culprits in malaria transmission, Ben-Aharon's team at ZAP aims to replicate the success seen in countries like Israel, Greece, and the United States. The interview shed light on the pivotal role drones play in streamlining the labor-intensive process of identifying stagnant water sources where mosquitoes breed, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution to tackle malaria on a large scale. Ben-Aharon emphasized the need for local partnerships and government support to expand their operations across Africa and ultimately eliminate malaria, particularly among children under five years old, who make up two-thirds of the disease's fatalities on the continent.