SORA Technology, a health tech company based in Japan, is preparing to roll out a drone and AI-driven mosquito-control solution in Nigeria as part of the effort to tackle the country’s persistent malaria challenge.
The innovative system uses aerial surveys combined with artificial intelligence to locate mosquito breeding grounds and precisely administer larvicides, offering a more efficient and cost-saving approach compared with conventional malaria control methods. The initiative is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Nigeria continues to carry the highest malaria burden globally. According to the World Malaria Report 2024, the country accounted for 26–27 per cent of all malaria cases worldwide and 31 per cent of related deaths, with nearly 40 per cent of fatalities occurring among children under five. In 2023, Nigeria recorded around 68 million malaria cases and 184,689 deaths, with an economic burden of $1.6 billion (N687 billion) in 2022, expected to rise to $2.8 billion (N2 trillion) by 2030.
SORA Technology’s Chief Operations Officer, Marina Ishikawa, explained the system’s operational concept to The Guardian: “This sharply contrasts with traditional larval-source management, which involves spraying every water body regardless of larval presence. With our system, we reduce larvicide use and labour costs by up to 70 per cent, making malaria prevention far more cost-effective.”
The drones operate at roughly 100 metres above the terrain, capturing detailed images of water bodies where Anopheles mosquitoes breed. AI algorithms then assess the size, depth, temperature, and surrounding vegetation of these sites to determine where larvae are actually present. The information is sent via a mobile application to field teams for targeted larvicide application.
SORA Technology has already deployed this system in Sierra Leone and Ghana, while a major project is currently underway in Mozambique with UNITAID and WHO. Ishikawa noted that Ghana’s experience showed that only about 30 per cent of water bodies actually contained mosquito larvae, highlighting the efficiency of the AI-guided method and its reduction of unnecessary larvicide use.
The company is also adapting its technology for dengue fever, which is spread by Aedes mosquitoes, with pilot projects running in the Philippines. Beyond public health, SORA Technology is expanding the platform to agriculture, using AI-driven mapping to monitor soil moisture, water distribution, and chemical applications. Initial trials are taking place in cocoa farms in Ghana, with plans to expand across Africa.
Ishikawa confirmed that discussions are ongoing with WHO and Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) to formalise a memorandum of understanding, with pilot projects expected to start early next year. She assured that the larvicides used are WHO-approved, target only Anopheles larvae, and do not harm humans, animals, or aquatic life.
She further highlighted that the system is suitable even for densely populated urban areas, as the drones can detect small or concealed mosquito breeding sites that would otherwise go unnoticed.
