As malaria-carrying mosquitoes adapt their behavior, weakening traditional prevention methods like bed nets, Japanese health-tech startup SORA Technology is preparing to launch drone- and AI-driven malaria control in Nigeria. The initiative follows successful deployments across West and East Africa.

In a virtual interview, SORA COO Marina Ishikawa explained that the system uses drones and artificial intelligence to map standing water—potential mosquito breeding sites—and identify those harboring malaria-carrying larvae. Only about 30% of water bodies typically host these larvae, allowing the program to target larvicide application more efficiently, reducing chemical use and labor costs.

The drones can also reach remote or difficult terrain, increasing the program’s effectiveness compared to manual methods. SORA has already operated in countries including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Benin, Kenya, and Mozambique, with plans to expand to Tanzania, Zanzibar, and more African nations next year.

Ishikawa emphasized training local operators to run the system independently, ensuring sustainability. She highlighted that malaria mosquitoes are increasingly biting outdoors and during the day, undermining bed nets. “Preventing them at the larval stage is increasingly vital,” she said.

Despite the promise, SORA faces challenges in adoption. Drone technology is new to many governments and communities, raising safety, privacy, and cost concerns, while approvals and funding require negotiation.

Nigeria, with one of the world’s highest malaria burdens, is a strategic priority. SORA is working with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) to determine pilot sites, whether in high-transmission rural areas or urban centers. The company’s goal: dramatically reduce malaria within the first few years, moving toward zero cases.

SORA recently secured JPY 670 million (~USD 4.8 million) in seed funding from investors including Nissay Capital and DRONE FUND. The company is also part of the G7-endorsed Triple I Initiative, supporting innovation, investment, and impact in global health.

By combining drones, AI, and local expertise, SORA aims to transform malaria control, targeting mosquitoes at the source and creating scalable, life-saving public health systems where traditional methods fall short.