MALAREO (EO in malaria vector control and management)

Objectives

MALAREO aims to support an efficient and effective vector control management in the project area by introducing earth observation (EO) and geographical information system (GIS) capacities within the malaria control programmes.

The primary objective of MALAREO is to develop technology and implement earth observation (EO) capacities within malaria vector control and management programmes in southern Africa (SA). To achieve this objective, knowledge exchange and capability will occur in two directions, from the European Union (EU) to SA and backwards. By doing this, the project will contribute to the installation of an EO monitoring cell that will support the daily work of the national malaria control programmes (NMCPs).

The project is focusing on the cross-border region of southern Mozambique, eastern Swaziland and north-eastern South Africa. The region is largely undeveloped, this being exacerbated by the fact that it falls within a malaria area. Increased anti-malarial drug resistance and the lack of a malaria control programme in the past (mainly in south Mozambique) have contributed to this impeded development. The three countries in the MALAREO study area are in different stages of malaria control, which causes different conditions for the use of EO products.