Block Malaria Africa Initiative has called on young people across Africa to take the lead in the fight against malaria.
Mr Kingsley Obeta, Executive Director of Block Malaria Africa Initiative, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
Obeta spoke as the world prepares to mark World Malaria Day 2025, highlighting the urgent need for youth-driven solutions in malaria control and elimination.
“We are not just future stakeholders; we are present-day changemakers.
Our energy, innovation, and commitment are vital in the fight against malaria and broader global health challenges,” he said.
Obeta, who is also a biomedical scientist, said that malaria remained a major public health threat in sub-Saharan Africa, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, especially children under five.
According to him, climate change is further worsening the situation by expanding mosquito breeding grounds and increasing the risks of transmission.
To mark this year’s World Malaria Day, he urged young people to leverage, Artificial Intelligence (AI), social media, digital tools, and biotechnology for faster and more effective malaria prevention and treatment.
He urged them to push for change by using their voices and digital platforms to demand increased funding, stronger political will, and greater government accountability in malaria programmes.
He Obeta said that the youths should drive grassroots awareness campaigns through peer education, creative storytelling, and myth-busting in schools, religious centres, and youth groups.
He urged them to also engage in research, including data collection and academic studies focused on malaria, to support context-specific solutions.
“There is the need for global collaboration by joining local and international youth networks to co-create sustainable, cross-border initiatives,” he said.
Obeta aligned his message with the position of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria.
He said that both organisations stressed the need for renewed investment, sustained political commitment, and community engagement to end the disease.
“We inherited a world threatened by malaria. Let us ensure that we do not pass it on to the next generation. We are the generation that can end malaria,” he said.
NAN reports that World Malaria Day is observed annually on April 25 to highlight progress in malaria control and to mobilise global support toward its eventual elimination.
This year, Block Malaria Africa is reinforcing that young people are not just part of the conversation, but are at the heart of the solution.