Equatorial Guinea is expanding its ambitious malaria elimination programme beyond Bioko Island to the mainland and Annobón Island, aiming to eliminate the mosquito-borne disease nationwide by 2030.
The initiative builds on more than two decades of malaria control efforts on Bioko Island, where a combination of insecticide spraying, mosquito nets, mosquito-larvae control and detailed disease surveillance has significantly reduced malaria infections and deaths.
The government and business partners announced a $116 million investment earlier in 2026 to extend the programme across the country. The expansion is intended to strengthen disease prevention, improve access to interventions and protect communities at risk of malaria.
Bioko Island Provides a Model for Malaria Control
Bioko Island has recorded substantial progress after years of sustained investment and community-based interventions.
According to the Associated Press, malaria prevalence on the island has fallen from approximately 50 per cent to around 7 per cent. Deaths among children under five have also declined by 78 per cent.
The programme combines indoor insecticide spraying, the distribution and use of mosquito nets, and efforts to control mosquito breeding sites. Health workers also collect detailed information about households and reported malaria cases to identify high-risk areas and adjust prevention strategies.
Community engagement has played an important role in the programme. Workers visit homes to explain the benefits of spraying and encourage residents to cooperate with malaria prevention efforts.
The initiative has received more than $130 million in support from the government and oil companies over approximately two decades, helping sustain its operations on Bioko Island.
$116 Million Investment to Expand Prevention Efforts
The national expansion will extend malaria prevention activities to mainland Equatorial Guinea and the remote island of Annobón.
Authorities plan to combine existing control methods with additional public health measures, including the rollout of the World Health Organization-recommended R21 malaria vaccine for children. Programme officials have outlined plans to vaccinate approximately 300,000 children nationwide.
The country is also considering using drones to identify mosquito breeding hotspots and improve surveillance. Researchers are exploring the potential role of genetically modified mosquitoes, although their use remains under consideration rather than an established part of the national programme.
Geographic Challenges Could Complicate Elimination
Despite Bioko Island’s progress, extending the programme to the mainland presents significant challenges.
Mainland Equatorial Guinea is approximately 13 times larger than Bioko and shares borders with Cameroon and Gabon, where malaria remains prevalent. Movement across these borders could reintroduce infections, making regional coordination important to the programme’s success.
Health experts also stress that malaria elimination requires more than mosquito control and vaccination. Better housing, accessible health services, sustained funding and improvements in living conditions are essential to reducing transmission over the long term.
Equatorial Guinea Targets 2030
Malaria remains a major public health challenge across Africa. The World Health Organization estimated that approximately 610,000 people died from the disease worldwide in 2024, with African countries accounting for about 95 per cent of global malaria cases and deaths.
Equatorial Guinea’s expansion represents a major effort to build on Bioko Island’s experience and apply its lessons nationwide. However, achieving elimination by 2030 will depend on sustained investment, effective implementation and the ability to prevent new infections from entering communities.
Swifteradio.com
