Bogand©: Administrative, traditional, and religious authorities, as well as community leaders in the Gnagna province, were invited on Monday in Bogand© to fully commit to ensuring the success of the national free screening and treatment campaign for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) this coming August.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the advocacy meeting, held in the meeting room of the Bogand© High Commission, aimed to strengthen participants' knowledge of non-communicable diseases and to encourage their support for a broad mobilization of the population. During the meeting, Yamindi© Tankoano outlined the main diseases targeted by this campaign. These include high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease, which have become major public health issues.
He explained the risk factors, preventative measures, and procedures for the community screening campaign, emphasizing the crucial role of opinion leaders in raising public awareness to encourage strong participation. "To maintain good health, it is recommended to consume five portions of fruits and vegetables daily," he stated, illustrating his point with examples such as five shea nuts, a glass of fresh fruit juice, fourteen grapes, an eighth of a watermelon, or a single papaya.
The Chief Medical Officer of the Bogand© health district, Dr. Moussa Sawadogo, reiterated that the Ministry of Health has made the fight against non-communicable diseases a priority through a strategy based on prevention, early detection, and treatment of those affected. According to him, prevention relies primarily on adopting a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. He urged the population to limit their consumption of salt, sugar, and fats, to avoid tobacco and alcohol abuse, and to engage in regular physical activity to reduce risk factors.
The discussions also highlighted the need to strengthen preventive medicine in the workplace. Several participants lamented the gradual disappearance of regular medical checkups for workers, believing that their reinstatement in Gnagna would contribute to the early detection of chronic diseases and better protection of workers' health.
Closing the meeting, the Secretary General of Gnagna Province, Mendien dit Moussa Soma, urged participants to disseminate awareness messages within their communities to ensure strong mobilization around this free campaign. He emphasized that this initiative offers the population, particularly the most vulnerable, the opportunity to know their health status and, if necessary, to receive early treatment. Meanwhile, participants were informed of a measles vaccination campaign scheduled from July 16 to 21, 2026, throughout Gnagna Province.