Sustainable innovation in vector control requires strong partnerships with communities

Mosquito control is a multisectoral public service critical to advancing the 2030 sustainable development goals (SGDs). Inextricably linked to housing quality, urban planning, education, healthcare access, and other issues of economic equity and environmental justice, the challenge of mosquito-borne diseases can only be met by linking up diverse forms of expertise and advocacy [1].

Local communities are a key actor and crucial resource in this effort. As WHO’s 2017–2030 Global Vector Control Response reminds us, the engagement of affected communities is essential to building ‘sustainable control programmes that are resilient in the face of technical, operational, and financial challenges’ [2]. Though the form of participation will vary depending on the type of intervention, success hinges upon the degree to which citizens are effectively incorporated into the work of entomological research and mosquito abatement.