Climate-influenced vector-borne diseases in Africa: a call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions

Judicaël Obame-Nkoghe^{1

2

3}, Adjoavi Esse Agossou⁴, Gerald Mboowa^{5

6}, Basile Kamgang⁷, Cyril Caminade⁸, Dawn C Duke⁹, Andrew Karanja Githeko¹⁰, Obed M Ogega¹¹, Nestor Engone Elloué¹², Fatou Bintou Sarr¹³, Dieudonné Nkoghe¹⁴, Pierre Kengne¹⁵, Nicaise T Ndam^{16

17}, Christophe Paupy¹⁵, Moses Bockarie¹⁸, Patricks Voua Otomo¹⁹

Affiliations

¹ Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory (LabMC), Biology Department, University of Science and Technology of Masuku, BP 901, Franceville, Gabon. judicael.obame@live.fr.
² Ecology and Health Research Unit, Interdisciplinary Center for Medical Research of Franceville, BP 769, Franceville, Gabon. judicael.obame@live.fr.
³ Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Private Bag x13, Phuthaditjhaba, 9866, Republic of South Africa. judicael.obame@live.fr.
⁴ Laboratory of Pharmacology and Improved Traditional Medicines, Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Abomey-Calavi, BP 526, Cotonou, Benin.
⁵ The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences, Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda.
⁶ Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Union Commission, Roosevelt Street, P.O. Box 3243, W21 K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
⁷ Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁸ Earth System Physics Department, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy.
⁹ Africa Research Excellence Fund, 99 Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HR, UK.
¹⁰ Community Health Support Program, P.O. Box 872, Kisumu, 40100, Kenya.
¹¹ The African Academy of Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya.
¹² Center for Phylosophical Studies and Research (CERP), Omar Bongo University (UOB), BP 13131, Libreville, Gabon.
¹³ UMRED, Health Training and Research Unit, University of Iba Der Thiam of Thiès, BP 967, Thiès, Senegal.
¹⁴ National Parasitic Diseases Control Program, Ministry of Health, Libreville, Gabon.
¹⁵ MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.
¹⁶ MERIT, IRD, Paris Cité University, 75006, Paris, France.
¹⁷ Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, LG 54, Accra, Ghana.
¹⁸ School of Community Health Sciences, Njala University, Bo, Sierra Leone.
¹⁹ Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Private Bag x13, Phuthaditjhaba, 9866, Republic of South Africa.

PMID: 38486340
PMCID: PMC10938833
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01193-5

Climate-influenced vector-borne diseases in Africa: a call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions

Judicaël Obame-Nkoghe et al. Infect Dis Poverty. 2024.

. 2024 Mar 14;13(1):26.

doi: 10.1186/s40249-024-01193-5.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory (LabMC), Biology Department, University of Science and Technology of Masuku, BP 901, Franceville, Gabon. judicael.obame@live.fr.
² Ecology and Health Research Unit, Interdisciplinary Center for Medical Research of Franceville, BP 769, Franceville, Gabon. judicael.obame@live.fr.
³ Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Private Bag x13, Phuthaditjhaba, 9866, Republic of South Africa. judicael.obame@live.fr.
⁴ Laboratory of Pharmacology and Improved Traditional Medicines, Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Abomey-Calavi, BP 526, Cotonou, Benin.
⁵ The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences, Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O Box 22418, Kampala, Uganda.
⁶ Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Union Commission, Roosevelt Street, P.O. Box 3243, W21 K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
⁷ Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, P.O. Box 13591, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁸ Earth System Physics Department, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy.
⁹ Africa Research Excellence Fund, 99 Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HR, UK.
¹⁰ Community Health Support Program, P.O. Box 872, Kisumu, 40100, Kenya.
¹¹ The African Academy of Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya.
¹² Center for Phylosophical Studies and Research (CERP), Omar Bongo University (UOB), BP 13131, Libreville, Gabon.
¹³ UMRED, Health Training and Research Unit, University of Iba Der Thiam of Thiès, BP 967, Thiès, Senegal.
¹⁴ National Parasitic Diseases Control Program, Ministry of Health, Libreville, Gabon.
¹⁵ MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.
¹⁶ MERIT, IRD, Paris Cité University, 75006, Paris, France.
¹⁷ Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, LG 54, Accra, Ghana.
¹⁸ School of Community Health Sciences, Njala University, Bo, Sierra Leone.
¹⁹ Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Private Bag x13, Phuthaditjhaba, 9866, Republic of South Africa.

PMID: 38486340
PMCID: PMC10938833
DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01193-5

Abstract

We look at the link between climate change and vector-borne diseases in low- and middle-income countries in Africa. The large endemicity and escalating threat of diseases such as malaria and arboviral diseases, intensified by climate change, disproportionately affects vulnerable communities globally. We highlight the urgency of prioritizing research and development, advocating for robust scientific inquiry to promote adaptation strategies, and the vital role that the next generation of African research leaders will play in addressing these challenges. Despite significant challenges such as funding shortages within countries, various pan-African-oriented funding bodies such as the African Academy of Sciences, the Africa Research Excellence Fund, the Wellcome Trust, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as well as initiatives such as the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence and the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association, have empowered (or are empowering) these researchers by supporting capacity building activities, including continental and global networking, skill development, mentoring, and African-led research. This article underscores the urgency of increased national investment in research, proposing the establishment of research government agencies to drive evidence-based interventions. Collaboration between governments and scientific communities, sustained by pan-African funding bodies, is crucial. Through these efforts, African nations are likely to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of their systems and communities by navigating these challenges effectively, fostering scientific excellence and implementing transformative solutions against climate-sensitive vector-borne diseases.

Keywords: Africa; Climate change; Environmental justice; Pan-African funding initiatives; Research and development; Vector-borne diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Critical components in building the next generation of African researchers working on vector-borne diseases

**Fig. 2**
Chronological frame towards sustainable solutions and impact in response to climate change challenges in Africa

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Climate-influenced vector-borne diseases in Africa: a call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions

Affiliations

Climate-influenced vector-borne diseases in Africa: a call to empower the next generation of African researchers for sustainable solutions

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical

Miscellaneous