Burkina Faso’s Health Sector Resilience: WHO’s 2024-2025 Biennial Report Highlights Key Advances
The World Health Organization (WHO)’s 2024–2025 Biennial Report for Burkina Faso meticulously chronicles significant accomplishments achieved amidst a complex backdrop of security, humanitarian, and climatic adversities.
Among the standout achievements is the widespread rollout of the **malaria vaccine** across all 70 health districts, marking a pivotal step in preventing malaria and safeguarding child health. The report also details the implementation of the WHO PEN package in six health districts, substantially enhancing the integrated management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) within primary healthcare settings.
A notable regulatory triumph during this biennium is the enactment of the anti-tobacco decree, which strictly prohibits smoking in public spaces and on public transport. This underscores the nation’s unwavering commitment to promoting public health and mitigating avoidable risk factors.
WHO-supported initiatives aimed at combating malaria have consistently yielded far-reaching impacts. 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, 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 delivery of 58 tons of vital medicines and medical equipment to serve at-risk populations.
The report further illuminates foundational advancements in health information systems, particularly the adoption of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in four leading hospitals. This represents a critical milestone for improving data quality, enhancing mortality surveillance, and facilitating evidence-based decision-making.
These collective outcomes underscore Burkina Faso’s substantial strides in bolstering health system resilience, strengthening healthcare services, and protecting its citizens, while also delineating strategic priorities for future programmatic cycles.
