The impact of flooding on malaria risk in Africa is a significant concern, especially with climate change altering flood patterns and intensifying the risk. The Malaria Atlas Project has taken on the task of investigating this relationship by collaborating with global flood risk intelligence firm Fathom.
Fathom, known for their comprehensive flood risk data, has been enlisted by the Malaria Atlas Project to provide data for the entire African continent both for the current day and future climate scenarios up to the year 2100. This initiative, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to assess the effects of flooding on various aspects of malaria control in Africa.
One key area of focus is the impact of flooding on transport infrastructure essential for delivering medical services to remote communities. Additionally, the project is examining how flooding disrupts malaria control efforts such as mass distribution of insecticidal bed nets. Moreover, the researchers are studying how future changes in flood risk will influence the distribution of mosquito breeding sites, crucial for the spread of malaria.
Professor Peter Gething, co-head of the Malaria Atlas Project, emphasized the importance of Fathom’s flood risk data in analyzing malaria transmission in flood-prone areas of Africa. This data is crucial for developing resilient infrastructure strategies to combat malaria effectively on the continent.
Dr. Andrew Smith, COO and Co-Founder at Fathom, expressed pride in their data contributing to such a significant initiative. By studying the relationship between climate change-induced flooding and malaria risk in Africa, the project aims to support informed decision-making to protect communities from this prevalent health threat.
Following the delivery of Fathom’s data, the primary analytics phase has concluded, and the insights gained are now being utilized to create a new evidence base. This will hopefully drive action at the intersection of malaria and climate change, ultimately leading to better strategies for tackling malaria in the face of evolving flood risks.
For more information on the outcomes of this project, visit: https://malariaatlas.org/climate-change/.
