Fada n'gourma: Skilled actors addressing pathologies and health events related to epidemics. The High Commissioner of the Gourma province, Silas Nacanabo, chaired the first ordinary session of the year 2026 of the provincial committee for epidemic management this Thursday in Fada N'Gourma. Administrative and health authorities, technical partners, and representatives of civil society were present.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting in Fada N'Gourma aimed to present the framework for the creation, responsibilities, composition, and functioning of the committee, as well as to review the epidemiological situation in the province. The Chief Medical Officer of the Fada N'Gourma health district, Dr. Sandrine Bienvenue Sam, welcomed the session as an opportunity for stakeholders to better understand the committee's role and learn about health events related to epidemics in the Gourma province.
Silas Nacanabo praised the mobilization of the actors, seeing it as a commitment to strengthening the health system and population well-being. He highlighted health's centrality in national policy, particularly within the new 2026-2030 development framework titled "Recovery," which focuses on human capital development.
The High Commissioner noted the recurring health risks in Gourma province, including seasonal epidemics, emerging diseases, and public health emergencies related to security issues and population displacements. On the epidemiological front, Nacanabo reported that from the first to the eighth epidemiological week of 2026, the health districts recorded 1,746 cases of measles, three cases of acute flaccid paralysis, and four cases of meningitis.
Emphasizing the need for a coordinated response, Nacanabo stated that managing epidemics requires the involvement of various stakeholders beyond health facilities. He urged committee members to demonstrate teamwork and proactivity to anticipate health crises, strengthen action coordination, and mobilize essential resources.
As chairman of the provincial committee for epidemic management, Nacanabo committed to ensuring proper coordination and the mobilization of decentralized state services. The session aimed to define member roles, present the epidemiological situation, and coordinate partner support in fighting epidemic-potential diseases. Nacanabo called for unity and determination to protect public health.