Climate-driven mosquito range shifts expose health inequities, migration, and ecosystem disruption across Africa and neighboring regions
Original framing: “Climate change may help eliminate malaria from West and Central Africa” — New Scientist
Entomological models incorporating temperature, humidity, and land‑cover show that while extreme heat may limit Anopheles survival in some zones, it simultaneously expands suitable habitats along high‑altitude corridors and urban peripheries. Climate projections must be coupled with socio‑economic scenarios to avoid over‑optimistic predictions. Peer‑reviewed meta‑analyses stress the uncertainty range of vector‑climate relationships.
Climate‑driven shifts in malaria vectors are not a simple win‑lose story; they intersect with historic land‑use legacies, indigenous stewardship, and emerging migration flows that together reshape disease landscapes.
Power structures that celebrate a warming‑induced decline often silence the communities most exposed to new risks, while overlooking the potential of culturally embedded water management and artistic communication. By weaving scientific modelling with historical insight, cross‑cultural practices, and marginalized voices, a multi‑layered response can be built—one that equips health ministries, regional bodies, and local innovators to anticipate hotspots, protect vulnerable populations, and transform climate challenges into opportunities for resilient, equitable health systems.