Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week 2023: Valuable Lessons for African Researchers and Policy Makers

Mosquitoes are vectors of diseases that can have serious consequences for human health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than half of the world's population is at risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and other diseases every year. In 2019, malaria alone caused an estimated 229 million cases, accounting for 94% of the global total. In the same year, Malaria alone also killed 384,000 people in Africa, mostly children under five years old. Most of the burden falls on sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to severe illness, disability and death, these diseases also have significant social and economic impacts.

In the Caribbean, where the climate and environmental conditions are favourable for mosquito breeding and transmission, mosquito-borne diseases have been a persistent challenge for decades, with the region having experienced several outbreaks in recent years, affecting millions of people and overwhelming health systems.?

In response to this situation, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), all providing technical guidance, coordination and advocacy for vector control initiatives in the Caribbean, launched the Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week (CMAW) in 2016. CMAW takes place annually in May, perfectly coinciding with the start of the rainy season in the Caribbean, and since May 2017 they have been raising awareness and mobilising action to prevent and control mosquito-borne diseases. The theme for MAW 2023 is "Fight the Bite: Protect Yourself and Your Community".The event serves as a platform for integrated vector management (IVM), which is a comprehensive approach that combines different methods and strategies to reduce the risk of vector-borne diseases. Some of the activities planned at the regional, national and community levels include:

• Distributing educational materials and posters to schools, health centres, and community groups.
• Conducting media interviews and social media campaigns to share information and tips on mosquito prevention and control.
• Organising community clean-ups and inspections to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites.
• Providing free insect repellent and mosquito nets to vulnerable populations.
• Collaborating with local authorities and stakeholders to implement integrated vector management strategies.

As a result of CMAW and other interventions, the Caribbean region has seen a significant reduction in the incidence and mortality of mosquito-borne diseases in recent years. For instance, between 2015 and 2019, the number of confirmed cases of Zika virus infection dropped by 99.8%, from 35,726 to 74; the number of confirmed cases of chikungunya virus infection dropped by 99.9%, from 34,418 to 36; and the number of confirmed cases of dengue fever dropped by 86%, from 40,921 to 5,773.

The CMAW campaign is now an inspiring example for African researchers on how a coordinated and sustained regional campaign and initiative can mobilise resources and engage communities to address a common public health challenge, such as vector control, through effective communication, education and community participation to fight against mosquitoes and their diseases.

Some of the key lessons are:

• The importance of having a strong regional coordination mechanism that brings together different stakeholders from public health, environment, education, tourism and other sectors to plan, establish, implement and evaluate a regular activity, event, or campaign to highlight the importance and urgency of preventing and controlling mosquito-borne diseases in Africa.
• The value of using multiple and innovative communication platforms and tools including social media to disseminate clear, consistent, and evidence-based messages that are tailored to the local culture and language of different African countries and regions about mosquito-borne diseases and their prevention to different audiences, such as policymakers, health workers, teachers, students and the general public.
• The need to engage and empower various partners, stakeholders, and communities, from different sectors and levels, to advocate for, support and participate in every vector control event or campaign to eliminate mosquito breeding sites in homes and surroundings, such as by covering water containers, disposing of garbage properly, clearing drains and gutters, using insect repellent and bed nets.
• The benefit of integrating various regional campaigns and events with other vector control interventions, such as entomological surveillance, larval source management, biological control agents, insecticide spraying and personal protection measures.
• The opportunity to leverage activities and events as opportunities to conduct research on various aspects of vector-borne diseases, such as epidemiology, entomology, diagnostics, treatment, prevention and control.
• Monitoring and evaluating the impact and outcomes of events or campaigns on knowledge, attitudes, behaviours, and health indicators related to mosquitoes and their diseases.

Africa marked World Malaria Day on April 25th, 2023, and we can continue to draw inspiration from the Caribbean's success stories fighting the bite. We must empower ourselves and our communities to take action against mosquitoes and their diseases by improving the prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases in our own regions and countries. We can also foster collaboration and exchange of experiences with our Caribbean counterparts and other researchers around the world who are working on similar challenges.?

Together, we can advance the global fight against mosquito-borne diseases and protect the health and well-being of millions of people, as we collaborate and adopt relevant strategies and best practices to raise awareness and mobilise action against mosquitoes in our own contexts.