Every year, mosquitoes kill hundreds of thousands around the world. In 2020 the estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 627,000 (WHO). Malaria transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito causes numerous health complications, and 96 percent of the fatalities occur in Africa.

In Kenya, there are an estimated 3.5 million new clinical cases and 10,700 deaths each year, and those living in Lake endemic regions have a higher risk of contracting malaria (CDC, 2018)

Over the last  decade, malaria prevention tools and strategies including effective vector control and the use of preventive antimalarial drugs  have had a major impact in reducing the burden of this disease. The number of cases and deaths in the lake endemic regions is still alarming and calls for effective and low cost elimination strategies to curb this disease. 

Larval source management (LSM) has been considered impractical in the Lake region of Kenya due to perceived difficulties in identifying the exact target areas. 

This is where Maladrone comes in. Using cutting-edge computer vision and artificial intelligence technology, this innovative drone app is able to detect and pinpoint mosquito breeding hotspots in real-time. By integrating this technology into drones and deploying them in at-risk areas, Maladrone is able to provide live feedback on the locations of these hotspots, and geo-referenced coordinates are sent via USSD code to community stakeholders to take appropriate measures in response.

One of the key benefits of Maladrone is its ability to significantly improve larval source management. By identifying the breeding sites of mosquitoes, Maladrone helps to inform where larvicides should be applied in order to effectively eliminate the threat of malaria at its source. This can help to reduce the costs associated with labor and larvicide waste, and make it more practical to tackle this devastating disease.

In addition to detecting hotspots, our drones are also equipped with sprayer systems that can safely and efficiently apply biodegradable agents to eliminate mosquito larvae  populations in hard-to-reach areas. This innovative approach not only saves time and resources, but    also  reduces the risk of exposure to human operators and minimizes environmental impact.

Overall, Maladrone is a revolutionary tool that has the potential to significantly improve public health outcomes in many of the areas where malaria and other vector-borne diseases are most prevalent. By using drone technology to detect and respond to mosquito breeding sites, it is helping to reduce the burden of the disease and  protect the health and well-being of vulnerable communities and save countless lives.