Malaria elimination officer in eastern Zambia starts by identifying where people dwell.
Maambo and his crew are fighting malaria in Katete, where cases rose nearly 50% in 2020.
Malaria affects 200 million people and kills hundreds of thousands, especially children under 5.
The U.S., partner governments, and the business sector donated $14.25 billion to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in September 2022.
Satellite imaging maps are helping Katete and other Zambian districts plan malaria preventive measures including applying insecticides to walls and ceilings and distributing insecticide-treated bed nets.
Improved population data helps Maambo's team determine how many insecticide-treated nets to distribute.
Zambian malaria prevention workers are also using more data, including community surveys.
Indoor residual spraying depends on community acceptability. Maambo's team also uses population data to address water security, sanitation, and hygiene.
We have also used the maps to identify areas that need sanitation facilities, such as latrines and drilling of water sources so that we can assist these densely populated areas.