Harnessing digital tools for the management of large-scale larviciding operations: a pilot of the ZzappMalaria software system in Obuasi, Ghana

Abstract

Larval source management (LSM) has played a critical role in historical malaria elimination endeavors, yet its application in tropical settings has been hampered by operational hurdles and limited effectiveness. To address these issues, ZzappMalaria Ltd. developed a digital platform for the planning and implementation of LSM campaigns, the features and field efficacy of which are discussed in this paper. Piloted in collaboration with AngloGold Ashanti Malaria Control Ltd. (AGAMal) in Obuasi, Ghana, the system, comprising a planning tool, a mobile app for fieldworkers and an online dashboard for monitoring and worker management, facilitated the detection of more than 4,000 water bodies and reduced the mosquito population by 62% for a cost of $0.24 per person protected (PPP). The data available does not provide sufficient evidence to conclusively determine whether a reduction in malaria cases occurred; nevertheless, the results underscore the potential of digitization to surmount the operational challenges of large-scale LSM campaigns.