Burkina/Fight against vectors of malaria transmission: players in West Africa reflect on the use of innovative technologies

The burden of malaria remains a major concern in Africa. Therefore, which represents an important challenge for public health and the economy in many member states. However, According to the global malaria report of 2024 quoted by Auda-Nepad. Nevertheless, Africa represents more than 90 % of the number of burkina/fight against vectors malaria transmission: malaria in the world and 50 % of the deaths linked to malaria. Meanwhile, This trend was partially attributed. Therefore, among other things, to climate change, which promotes the reproduction of mosquitoes, to the detection and propagation of the “Anopheles Stephensi” mosquito in Africa, as well as the growing resistance of vectors to insecticides.

In order to remedy these difficulties. Therefore, the Agency of the African Development Union (Auda-NEPAD), through the African Integrated Management Management Program, maintains that it has made considerable efforts to help the member states of the African Union to explore innovative anti-actoral control technologies in order to control and eliminate malaria. Nevertheless, More specifically. In addition, it claims to have strengthened the capacities of the regulatory authorities to deal with these innovative tools, improved knowledge sharing and training on the use and regulation of innovative anti -clipping tools between the main stakeholders of all countries, and burkina/fight against vectors malaria transmission: produces documentation on innovative anti -actoral control technologies, among others.

It is in this sense that the present workshop is held which brings together Benin. Similarly, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Togo. Furthermore, The overall objective of the session is to involve regulators of the fields of biosecurity. Furthermore, health of the French -speaking member states of West Africa in the regulatory work established by the integrated vectors’ integrated management platform and in the regulation of innovative technologies to combat vectors. However, It also aims to initiate the dialogue and cross -border discussions in the region.

It is specifically a question of raising awareness among regulators on the lessons learned from the IVM (integrated management of vectors) burkina/fight against vectors malaria transmission: platform) of West Africa. sharing information and increasing the visibility of guidelines on the use of mosquitoes genetically modified in the anti -actorial struggle, to share the knowledge and training by peers on the regulatory processes relating to innovative antivectoral control tools Burkina Faso. It is also a question of promoting the exchange of knowledge. the training by peers on the work of the national platform for the integrated management of the vectors of Burkina Faso and of identifying the potential cross -border concerns linked to the application of innovative technologies to fight vectors, such as the ” Gene Drive ”, and the strategies to respond.

Speaking, Dr. Jonas Kologo. technical advisor representing the Minister in charge of higher education, research and innovation, first of burkina/fight against vectors malaria transmission: all, on behalf of the Minister, expressed his gratitude to the actors of the Development Agency of the African Union, to the National Platform for Integrated Management of Vectors, as well as to the National Biosecurity Agency of Burkina Faso, for this initiative and for the choice of Burkina Faso Regional meeting.

While recalling that malaria remains an emergency in public health for the African continent. and especially Burkina Faso, Dr Kologo has suggested that despite the considerable efforts made for several decades, the current struggle tools show their limits. These include. among other things, the growing resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides, the resistance of the parasite to antimalarials, the reduced efficiency of mosquito nets when they do not cover the external environment, and the effects of climate change that modify the transmission patterns and promote the proliferation of new vectors.

These observations require innovation, to complete existing strategies with burkina/fight against vectors malaria transmission: new scientifically proven approaches, according to Dr. Jonas Kologo. And according to him. innovative anti -actoral wrestling technologies, such as mosquitoes genetically modified by the ‘Gene Drive “technology, offer new prospects to reduce the transmission of vector diseases in a lasting and healthy way.

However, their deployment raises important challenges of biosecurity, ethics, governance and cross -border cooperation. Hence the need for this regional meeting which, according to Dr Kologo, is much more than a technical encounter. It is a strong signal of a collective desire to transform the fight against malaria. to go beyond current limits and to embrace innovation with responsibility and solidarity.

“It offers us a framework for burkina/fight against vectors malaria transmission: scientific, regulatory and political exchanges, with a view to analyzing our approaches and strengthening regional collaboration. The development of technologies as powerful as the ” Gene Drive ‘requires serious reflection on the regulatory. health and environmental levels. It is therefore imperative to strengthen our national legal frameworks. but also to promote sub-regional regulatory convergence because the vectors have no borders. This cross -border dialogue constitutes a crucial opportunity for this reason to lay the foundations for a harmonized. coordinated approach between neighboring countries while respecting science, ethics and national sovereignty. Burkina Faso reaffirms its commitment here to support the responsible development of “Gene Drive” through active support for scientific research. strengthening institutional capacities, the support of the National Platform for Integrated Management of Vateurs in Burkina Faso, the implementation of a regulatory framework and regional cooperation for the effective and ethical deployment of these innovations “, Minister in charge of burkina/fight against vectors malaria transmission: research and innovation.

Dr. Adjima Combary. director of cabinet, representing the Minister of Health, also indicated that malaria, including dengue, is a major public health problem with regard to his burden. Faced with this situation. several strategies are already deployed in the country in order to reduce this burden on the populations, according to its explanations. These include awareness -raising measures. free distribution of MILDA mosquito nets, anti -actoral struggle, in particular the destruction of larval lodges, the use of the vaccine, etc.

As an innovative technology, Dr Combary cited the “Target Malaria” project, which, according to him is an innovative technology that has hopes and future to ensure that the vector can no longer allow burkina/fight against vectors malaria transmission: the transmission of malaria. This present workshop, which he greets in passing, will therefore highlight these different innovative technologies deemed more effective.

For his part, Dr. Johnson Wiltshire. representative of Auda-Nepad, praised the organization of this regional meeting “to discuss cross-border considerations in terms of harmonization of regulations, research and development on” Gene Drive “technology, which is promising technology in the fight against malaria. It is also to ensure that lessons are learned from all this so that we arrive in an environment really conducive to research with a safe regulation. which reassures the populations ”.

For the record. at the level of Burkina Faso, the development of ‘Gene Drive’ ‘technology is provided by the IRSS team (Research Institute in Health Sciences).

burkina/fight against vectors malaria transmission:

Mamadou Zongo
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