With the onset of the rainy season, malaria prevention is ever more important and is a priority across near-mine communities in Beyla, Kérouané and Forecariah. This illness is part of everyday life, primarily affecting children and pregnant women, and remains one of the leading causes of consultations in health centres. Rio Tinto SimFer is committed to support the fight against malaria, placing community health first.
On the occasion of World Malaria Day 2026, SimFer rolled out a series of coordinated actions in partnership with the NGO Club des Amis du Monde (CAM). This mobilisation reflected a hands-on approach, sustainable and deeply rooted in local realities.
In these areas, where heavy rainfall, marshy environments and population mobility encourage mosquito breeding, fighting malaria means strengthening community resilience and supporting people’s ability to protect themselves. This ambition is aligned with national public health priorities and malaria reduction targets set for 2030.
From 23 to 25 April 2026, communities along the Simandou project mobilised around a large-scale campaign under the theme: “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a healthier and more equitable future.” On the field, more than twelve thousand people took part in activities organised across several localities in Beyla, Kérouané and Forecariah.
Community outreach workers travelled across neighbourhoods and villages, to raise awareness, explain the correct use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, identify suspected cases and promptly refer patients to health facilities. Year after year, this close engagement has improved knowledge, strengthened preventive behaviours and built lasting trust with communities.
These Home-Based Intervention Packages (HBIP) bring support directly to households, where everyday decisions are made.
Beyond screening and prevention, the campaign is a genuine platform for social dialogue. Information sharing discussions, practical demonstrations, educational theatre and sports-based mobilisation initiatives helped reach a wide audience, particularly young people, women and local leaders.
The collaboration between SimFer and the Club des Amis du Monde highlights the strength of partnerships between the private sector, civil society and public health authorities. By combining technical expertise, community anchoring and coordination with public health systems, this partnership strengthens local capacities and lays the groundwork for scalable models at national level.
"Malaria remains one of the most pressing public health challenges in Guinea, yet it is both preventable and treatable. Through our partnership with the Club des Amis du Monde, we are strengthening community-based solutions that enable households to act, detect cases early and protect the most vulnerable."
Ibrahima Kalil Tounkara
Senior Manager External Affairs, Rio Tinto Guinea
In this rainy season, SimFer is intensifying its presence alongside communities. Awareness-raising, household monitoring and the distribution of prevention tools are continuing with the support of community relays, in order to consolidate the gains made and limit the resurgence of cases.
This dynamic helps to anchor sustainable practices and strengthen the capacity of populations to prevent and manage malaria in the long term.