Adediji Naheemah Abidemi¹; Ishiak Mustapha Mohammed² ; Abubakar Ibrahim Umar²;
Akinade Abdullah Ajani² ; Abdulmalik Rokibat Ayomide²; Oluwaseyi Egbewande Muyiwa³
About:
¹Editor-in-Chief, CYTOBIZ Medical and Innovation Hub [Research and Development Department]
²Research Intern, CYTOBIZ Medical and Innovation Hub [Research and Development Department]
³Assistant Editor-in-chief, CYTOBIZ Medical and Innovation Hub [Research and Development Department]
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) stated that “3.6 billion people presently inhabit areas that are vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.” The World Health Organization (WHO) also projects that between 2030– 2050, climate-induced hazards will cause an additional 250,000 deaths annually, mainly due to the growing occurrences of malaria, and heat stress.
Climate change is defined as “alterations in the earth’s climatic conditions, is primarily instigated by anthropogenic activities that release greenhouse gases.” This escalation of the natural greenhouse effect results in the atmosphere retaining solar heat, causing the planet to warm. As climate continues to change, so does the burden of health risks and the potential ramifications for the initiatives established to safeguard our collective health security. Climate change has evolved into a pressing public health dilemma, particularly in Africa.
Climatic variations, which encompass irregular precipitation patterns, elevated temperatures and humidity, as well as extended drought, have fostered optimal breeding environments for disease-vectoring mosquitoes. As a result, vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, and yellow fever are emerging in regions previously classified as low-risk.
Mosquito-borne diseases including dengue, chikungunya, malaria, and yellow fever, are susceptible to seasonal fluctuations in temperature and humidity and are expected to benefit from climate change. Since mosquitoes are poikilothermal, this trait makes them highly sensitive to climatic changes. The development of parasites within the mosquito vector is also temperature-dependent. The normal temperature at which parasite development can be achieved for Plasmodium. vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are 16.5 °C and 14.5 °C, respectively.
At higher temperatures, mosquitoes hatch more quickly, as a result, their pace of development and reproduction increases exponentially, as does the range of mosquito-borne diseases. Warmer temperatures will also boost mosquito cell metabolism because of the increased chemical interactions. Mature females will feed more often and digest blood more quickly, which will result in more offspring. Increased humidity and rainfall contribute significantly to the expansion of mosquito populations. The existence of breeding grounds in standing water following rainfall is a factor that promotes mosquito growth, survival, and spread. High near-surface humidity brought on by rainfall stimulates mosquito species behaviors such as host-seeking, blood-feeding, and egg-laying, which in turn accelerates the spread of dengue, yellow fever, encephalitis, and malaria.
Climate also influences disease range and seasonality. Mosquitoes are less common in hard-freeze areas throughout the winter because they are unable to breed and their eggs are typically destroyed. However, certain species may be able to survive the winter if the temperature does not drop too low.
Climate change has been linked to a rise in dengue and malaria cases, as well as a proliferation in mosquito dispersal, as the world continues to warm. Along with latitude, height may also expand the area of disease vectors. Since mosquitoes are becoming more and more common throughout the world, they will eventually settle in new, suitable locations with warmer temperatures to meet their needs.
Many studies have highlighted these trends in Africa; For instance, Campbell et al. (2015), predicted that Chikungunya could expand into previously unaffected regions like Southern Africa as temperatures continue to rise, supporting the survival and proliferation of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Research has also indicated that temperature is the main factor causing transmission of Dengue disease, whereas precipitation (rainfall) and the dengue outbreak in Burkina Faso have inverse correlations.
Africa’s readiness to address the growing threat of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) under the influence of climate change remains deeply inadequate. The continent’s public health systems face various gaps in disease surveillance, healthcare infrastructure, and early warning preventive methods. As the global temperatures rise causing shifting of the ecological boundaries, mosquitoes’ primary vectors of diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya extend their range into previously non-endemic areas. Yet, many African countries lack robust entomological surveillance networks, which hinders indering timely detection and response to outbreaks.
In many regions, healthcare infrastructure is under-resourced and overburdened. Rural and slum communities, where healthcare facilities are inadequate and poorly equipped, are particularly vulnerable. The absence of integrated early warning systems—comprising of meteorological, ecological, and epidemiological data—limits the ability to anticipate outbreaks linked to environmental changes such as altered rainfall patterns and rising temperatures. From a climate justice perspective, the burden of VBDs is disproportionately on marginalized populations, including those in remote areas and neighboring areas. These communities often have the least adaptive capacity, making them to face limited access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare services.
Approaches such as the “The One Health” initiative provide integrated solutions by acknowledging the interrelatedness of human, animal, and environmental health. This framework facilitates coordinated surveillance of zoonotic reservoirs, environmental degradation, and patterns of human disease. However, implementing this framework across various sectors poses significant challenges in many African nations, primarily due to institutional silos, insufficient cross-sectoral communication, and limited interagency coordination.
Moreover, challenges such as inadequate funding, a lack of climate literacy among health professionals, and disjointed policy responses further compromise public health preparedness. National adaptation plans usually lack specificity regarding health sector needs, and implementation is being hindered by political instability and reliance on external donor support. To strengthen Africa’s resilience, there is a need for investment in climate-resilient health systems, locally made early warning methods, and inclusive policies that prioritize the most vulnerable communities.
The youth in Africa, which is the largest demographic of the continent, are victims of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya, caused by climate change. Whereas 60 percent of Africa’s entire population is below the age of 25, the young are letting their energy & creativity as well as their proximate locations to the communities go in fighting the spread of mosquito-borne diseases aggravated by climate change. Their efforts, from grassroots campaigns all through to innovation, are reshaping the public health response and fostering climate resilience.
One good example is the Malaria Youth Corps, which is operational in 14 African countries, including Liberia, Uganda, and Malawi. In Liberia, launched in December 2024, the Corps is empowering youth to distribute insecticide-treated nets and educate communities on malaria prevention, covering thousands in rural areas (African Leaders Malaria Alliance, 2020). In Uganda, the Malaria Youth Champions train students in the use of rapid diagnostic tests and conduct local discussions to raise further awareness. These projects show that young people are essential intermediaries between policy and action, facilitating community mobilization where health infrastructure falls short.
Besides direct action, young people use the Internet platforms for advocacy. The Block Malaria Africa Initiative, slated for April 2025, mobilizes young Africans to harness social media, AI, and biotechnology for awareness and accountability purposes (Voice of Nigeria, 2025). Calls are thus generated trying to gather money and reform policies with the aid of hashtags and online campaigns from young Africans; of course, engaging their peers and policymakers as well. Such attempts are vital, given that about 27 percent of youth surveyed in 2021 felt that leaders are doing enough to eradicate malaria–showing a strong need for youth-driven change and advocacy online (RBM Partnership to End Malaria, 2021).
Innovations at the local level are also brought to the fore. For instance , Kenyan youth-led initiatives include projects like Matibabu– the non-invasive malaria detection device-prove scaled solutions (African Leaders Malaria Alliance, 2020). There is also the mapping of mosquito breeding sites at the community level and net distributions to underserved areas as further proof of ingenuity among the youth. However, problems remain, e.g., lack of funding and the ever-fading piece-meal policy scene, with a mere 3.8% of global climate research funding going towards Africa (Wang et al., 2024).
The youth population across Africa have demonstrated that local and data-driven solutions can really improve health outcomes. Situating their work within One Health processes that unify human, animal, and environmental health results in resilient communities. Leadership from the youth requires collaboration from policymakers and health workers to scale these innovations that would serve as their best antidote to mosquitoes– a vector for many life-threatening diseases in Africa.
The alarming spread of vector-borne diseases throughout Africa, exacerbated by climate changes, serves as a stark reminder that geopolitical boundaries and artificial barriers wield no influence over the natural order. Unlike humans, mosquitoes and other disease-carrying vectors do not require visas to cross borders, thereby introducing urgent health challenges.
Youth-led approaches should be embraced to mitigate this growing threat. Young populations in Africa are becoming catalysts for change amid the pressures of climate-related challenges. With their exceptional insight, they can lead innovative initiatives in disease surveillance, public awareness campaigns, scientific research, and climate advocacy. Conclusively, equipping youth with the requisite resources, education, and leadership opportunities will not only cultivate sustainable, locally-driven solutions but will also engender a new cohort of young champions for climate health.
AUTHORS’ CONTRIBUTION
Adediji Naheemah Abidemi conceptualized the topic and supported the formulation, and review of the article. Ishiak Mustapha Mohammed , Abubakar Ibrahim Umar, Akinade Abdullah Ajani, Abdulmalik Rokibat Ayomide, were involved in drafting the article and implementation of corrections based on editorial feedback.Oluwaseyi Egbewande Muyiwa assisted with article formulation, editing and review. All authors approved the final version for publication.
