Burkina faso: Burkina Faso celebrated World Malaria Day under the theme: 'Motivated to eliminate Malaria, Now we can. Now we must.', with a strong message from health authorities and technical and financial partners calling for a general mobilization to definitively eliminate the disease. The actors welcomed the historic progress made in 2025 while reminding everyone that the fight is far from over.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Health Minister Robert Lucien Kargougou indicated that Burkina Faso is now "at a decisive turning point" in the fight against malaria. He stated that eliminating the disease "is no longer a dream, but a realistic and achievable ambition." The minister revealed that more than three million cases of malaria have been averted by 2025, with a 44% reduction in deaths related to the disease. Among children under five, the decrease in cases is close to 40%, reflecting the effectiveness of targeted interventions implemented across the country.
For Robert Lucien Kargougou, these results are the fruit of a strong political commitment brought to the highest level of the State by the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traor©. He also praised the investments made in the health sector as well as the strong involvement of technical and financial partners.
Health authorities noted that several strategies have contributed to these results, including the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women, improved case management, and the introduction of the malaria vaccine. "We have the solutions, we have the results; now we must accelerate," insisted the Minister of Health, stressing that every life saved constitutes "a national victory."
Speaking on behalf of technical and financial partners, the World Health Organization (WHO) Resident Representative, Dr. Laurent Moyenga, reaffirmed the institution's commitment to supporting Burkina Faso in mobilizing resources and implementing innovative interventions. According to him, this day represents a major opportunity to raise awareness among the population and strengthen community involvement in the fight against malaria, which remains a major public health problem in Africa and around the world.
The partners' representative, however, warned that the gains remain fragile in the face of persistent challenges, including funding gaps, insecticide resistance, climate change, and humanitarian crises. The stakeholders therefore called for increased national and international funding, accelerated introduction of health innovations, and the promotion of a multi-sectoral approach involving the State, communities, the private sector, and partners.
Despite progress made, malaria remains the leading cause of medical consultations, hospitalizations, and deaths in Burkina Faso. Health authorities have urged all citizens to adopt safe practices, including sleeping under mosquito nets, seeking prompt medical attention if symptoms appear, and protecting children and pregnant women. "As long as a child dies from malaria, our mission remains unfinished," the speakers reminded, before calling for continued national mobilization to make Burkina Faso a malaria-free country.