Kaya: The Koulse region commemorated World AIDS Day (WAD) 2025 on Friday in Kaya, under the theme: 'Overcoming disruptions, transforming the AIDS response'.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the head of the regional branch of the Permanent Secretariat of the National Council for the Fight against AIDS and STIs (SP/CNLS-IST) of Koulse, Tegawende Armand No«l Ouedraogo, called for a resilient, inclusive and innovative response, based on greater mobilization and better coordination of actors.

The Secretary General of the Koulse region, Bernadette Adenyo/Serme, representing the Governor, President of the Regional Council for the Fight Against AIDS, praised the commitment of institutional and community actors in the response to HIV/AIDS. She indicated that the region is showing a decline in HIV prevalence in the general population, from 7.17% in 1997 to 0.5% in 2024, with progress made towards the 2030 targets.

Commending the quality of services offered by community-based organizations and health facilities in the fight against HIV and STIs, the Secretary General presented two awards won by the Kaya Urban Medical Center (1st prize) and the Fatin Primary Health Center in the Boussouma health district (3rd prize). These awards, which honor the region, were presented by the National AIDS Control Program (PNLS) for their performance in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT).

Speaking on behalf of community-based organizations, Zambende Sawadogo recalled the symbolic significance of World AIDS Day, dedicated to solidarity with people living with HIV and to the memory of the victims. He reaffirmed the commitment of community organizations to combat all forms of stigma and discrimination and to strengthen integrated HIV services, focused on prevention and care, with a view to reducing new infections and AIDS-related deaths.

The ceremony was simultaneously marked by a voluntary and anonymous screening session which attracted particular enthusiasm.