Burkina Faso’s health progress: WHO’s 2024–2025 biennial report highlights resilience and access

The World Health Organization (WHO) 2024–2025 biennial report for Burkina Faso meticulously chronicles significant achievements realized amidst a challenging landscape marked by security, humanitarian, and climatic adversities.

Among the standout accomplishments is the comprehensive rollout of the malaria vaccine across all 70 health districts, representing a pivotal breakthrough in malaria prevention and safeguarding children’s health. The report also highlights the strategic implementation of the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions in six health districts, bolstering the integrated management of non-communicable diseases at the primary healthcare level.

A notable regulatory milestone during this biennium is the enactment of an anti-tobacco decree, which prohibits smoking in public places and on public transport. This legislative move underscores the nation’s steadfast commitment to public health promotion and the reduction of avoidable risk factors.

WHO-backed interventions in the ongoing battle against malaria have continued to yield widespread positive effects: over 5 million children benefited from seasonal malaria chemoprevention, while approximately 15 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets were distributed nationwide.

In vulnerable and hard-to-reach regions, the WHO played a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of essential services. This was achieved through the establishment of advanced health posts and mobile clinics, alongside the dispatch of 58 tons of vital medicines and medical equipment to support at-risk populations.

The report further illuminates foundational advancements within health information systems, specifically noting the adoption of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in four major referral hospitals. This marks a critical stride towards enhancing data quality, improving mortality surveillance, and facilitating evidence-based decision-making.

These collective outcomes underscore Burkina Faso’s substantial strides in bolstering health system resilience, strengthening service delivery, and protecting its populace, concurrently pinpointing strategic priorities for consolidation in future programmatic cycles.