Social, environment and climate change impacts on vector-borne diseases in arid areas of southern Africa

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are prevalent in Southern Africa particularly in poor and vulnerable communities. Bionomic, socioeconomic, environmental, institutional and climatic factors are the major drivers of VBD transmission. With the effects of climate change, the distribution and prevalence of VBDs are likely to increase. The Malaria and Bilharzia in Southern Africa project (MABISA) provided an opportunity to understand the likely impact of climate change on malaria and schistosomiasis in specific socio-ecological systems in Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The project focused on dryland ecologies and water systems within drylands.

The aim of the project was to determine the impacts of socio-economic, environmental, climatic, bionomic and institutional factors on malaria and schistosomiasis in specific vulnerable communities in arid areas of Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. This was done with a view to develop stakeholder-driven adaptation strategies.

• South Africa: Study sites in the uMgedula, Ndumo, Makhanisi villages in the uMkhanyakude District (KwaZulu-Natal province)

• Botswana: Study sites in the Shakawe and Ngarange villages of the Ngamiland district

• Zimbabwe: Study sites in the Buvuma, Ntalale and Selonga villages of the Gwanda District