Save Africa for Malaria, in partnership with the National Malaria Control Programme, has intensified its efforts to combat malaria in Sierra Leone through the latest distribution of Gambusia fish in Pujehun and Kenema districts.

The initiative, which introduces an eco-friendly approach to malaria prevention, aims to significantly reduce mosquito breeding across communities.

During the recent exercise, Gambusia fish commonly known as “Gambusia golden fish” were distributed to beneficiaries including students of the Eastern Police Technical College, members of the Sierra Leone Police, and local residents.

The fish were supplied in artificial ponds strategically positioned to attract mosquitoes, allowing the fish to consume their larvae and disrupt the mosquito life cycle.

Speaking on behalf of Artem Volchenko Chief Executive Officer of SAFMI during the event, the Country Director for Save Africa for Malaria Infection Alhaji Dauda Musa Bangura underscored the sustainability goals of the programme. He encouraged beneficiaries to take ownership of the fish ponds and to begin local breeding of the Gambusia species to promote self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on external supplies.

“This initiative is not only about reducing malaria infection rates but also about empowering communities to take charge of disease prevention,” he noted, pledging continued support for extending the project to other districts nationwide.

Beneficiaries expressed deep appreciation for the intervention, describing it as an innovative and promising step in the fight against malaria. They acknowledged that the Gambusia golden fish was a new species to them but committed to maintaining the ponds according to the guidance provided by the Save Africa for Malaria team.

The project forms part of a broader collaboration between Save Africa for Malaria and the Ministry of Health’s Malaria Control Programme, aimed at curbing malaria infection rates through community-driven and environmentally sustainable methods.