Geneva: On the final day of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), Dr. Anicet Kpoda, Regional Director of Health for the Centre-West region and member of the Burkina Faso delegation, delivered two statements. The first focused on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the second on the global strategy for women's, children's, and adolescent health.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Dr. Kpoda highlighted Burkina Faso's efforts to improve the health of women, newborns, children, and adolescents. "Our country reduced maternal mortality by approximately 40% between 2015 and 2021, and the under-five mortality rate fell from 82 to 48 per 1,000," he said. He also mentioned several initiatives that contributed to these advances, including free healthcare for women and children, the strengthening of high-impact interventions such as the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness and emergency obstetric and neonatal care, and the establishment of an incident management system to better monitor and improve the response to maternal and neonatal mortality.

In his second statement, the Burkinabe delegate highlighted national efforts in the fight against AMR. He recalled that Burkina Faso is part of the global dynamic through actions such as the adoption of the 2024-2026 national multisectoral action plan to combat AMR, the revision of the national guide for integrated AMR surveillance, the development of hygiene standards and guidelines in healthcare facilities, and the "One Health" approach in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Renewing Burkina Faso's commitment, Dr. Kpoda urged WHO to continue its efforts to ensure the effective implementation of the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's, and Adolescents' Health. He also, on behalf of the delegation, supported the updating of the Global Action Plan to Combat AMR from an inclusive perspective.

These declarations, falling under Pillar 1, fall under Items 13 and 15 of the WHO agenda respectively.