Nayala: The Toma Public Reading and Cultural Animation Center (CELPAC) hosted an advocacy workshop on Thursday focused on the introduction of the malaria vaccine into the vaccination schedule for children aged 5 to 23 months in the health district. The meeting, chaired by the Secretary General of Nayala Province, who represented the High Commissioner, gathered local authorities, community leaders, health workers, head nurses, and COGES managers of health facilities.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the workshop aimed to mobilize all stakeholders in the province to ensure success in this new phase of combating malaria. Mr. Diallo urged participants to commit fully to the vaccine rollout's success, highlighting that the initiative's success relies on widespread mobilization and awareness. He also acknowledged healthcare professionals' ongoing efforts to maintain public services despite security challenges.

Samate Tiere, head of vaccination prevention, emphasized the critical support needed from authorities, associations, the media, and health workers. He pointed out the importance of dispelling fears and rumors about vaccination and encouraged local leaders to communicate clear messages in places of worship and communities.

For the district health management team (ECD), the introduction of this vaccine marks a significant milestone, bolstering existing prevention methods in a region where malaria remains the primary cause of consultations and mortality among children under five. The vaccination schedule includes four doses for children aged 5 to 23 months, administered at 5, 6, 7, and 15 months.

Participants committed to disseminating the message so that every eligible child receives this additional protection. The first phase of malaria vaccination, launched in February 2024 with the RTS,S vaccine, initially covered 27 districts, with a national rollout on August 15, 2025.

In 2024, Burkina Faso reported over 10.8 million malaria cases, resulting in 3,523 deaths, 2,206 of which were children under five years of age.