Modern Technology in Malaria Prevenon, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Abstract

Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, parcularly in tropical and subtropical regions. In 2022, an esmated 249 million  malaria cases and 608,000 deaths were reported worldwide, with the WHO African Region bearing the highest burden. Nigeria, accounng  for 27% of global malaria cases, faces severe public health challenges due to the disease. This review examines the role of modern  technology in malaria control, focusing on its impact on surveillance, diagnosis, prevenon, and treatment. Web-based plaorms, mobile  applicaons, Geographic Informaon Systems (GIS), and machine learning have revoluonized malaria surveillance, enabling real-me data  collecon, mapping, and predicve modeling. Innovaons in diagnosc tools, such as Rapid Diagnosc Tests (RDTs), microscopy, molecular  diagnoscs, and arficial intelligence (AI), have enhanced diagnosc accuracy and accessibility. Prevenve measures, including inseccide- treated bed nets (ITNs), indoor residual spraying (IRS), drone-based technologies, and vaccine development, have significantly  contributed to reducing malaria transmission. Artemisinin-based combinaon therapies (ACTs), mobile health (mHealth) technologies, and  AI-driven drug discovery have improved malaria treatment and management. Despite progress, challenges such as drug resistance,  inseccide resistance, and limited access to healthcare persist. Connued investment in research, strengthening health systems, and  fostering collaboraon are essenal for achieving malaria eliminaon. Integrang modern technologies into healthcare delivery can enhance  malaria control efforts, reduce morbidity and mortality, and contribute to a malaria-free world.