Ziro/sapouy: The Sapouy health district held its first health council meeting of the year on Thursday, chaired by the High Commissioner of Ziro Province, Saïba Zorome. The meeting brought together administrative authorities, the district management team (ECD), and its partners, in the presence of heads of decentralized services, head nurses, and representatives of associations and NGOs.According to Burkina Information Agency, this session was primarily aimed at reviewing the health indicators for the year 2025, briefing stakeholders on the process of developing the District Health Development Plan (PDSD) and presenting the outlines of the implementation of the Universal Health Insurance Scheme (RAMU).In his opening remarks, the High Commissioner of Ziro, Saïba Zorome, praised the commitment of the actors in the health system, which has enabled significant progress to be made in the care of the population. "The results recorded demonstrate the commitment and professionalism of healthcare professionals. I e ncourage you to continue these efforts in order to consolidate the gains and address the remaining challenges in our province," he said.The presentation of the summary of indicators from this first session, made by the district medical officer (DMO), Dr. Cheikh Omar Sanogo, highlighted notable progress in curative and preventive activities. According to him, the year 2025 was marked by an improvement in prenatal consultations (PNC), a strengthening of the fight against malaria among pregnant women and children under five, as well as a decrease in deaths related to this disease."Compared to 2024, we have recorded significant progress in several health indicators, including a reduction in maternal deaths and improved management of malaria among the most vulnerable groups," said Dr. Sanogo. These results are attributed to the commitment of health workers and the involvement of community health workers (CHWs), who contribute to the screening and management of uncomplicated malaria at the community level. The introduction of the malaria vaccine for children under five and the destruction of mosquito breeding sites have also contributed to significantly reducing the mortality rate associated with this disease.Despite these achievements, challenges remain. The Sapouy health district recorded 162 perinatal deaths in 2025, a worrying situation that health officials attribute in particular to home births, failure to attend postnatal consultations and late consultations in health facilities. The report also highlighted the progressive inclusion of non-communicable diseases through the WHOPEN program, including high blood pressure and diabetes, which are now integrated into consultations.During the meeting, the district's chief medical officer also presented the implementation process of the Universal Health Insurance Scheme (UHIS), which aims to improve equitable access to healthcare for the population. The session also provided an opportunity to brief participants on the process of developing the District Health De velopment Plan (PDSD) 2027-2031, a strategic document inspired by the National Health Development Plan and whose development follows six essential steps meeting several technical and participatory requirements.The district health council concluded on a note of general satisfaction, with stakeholders committing to continue efforts to sustainably improve the quality of care and effectively meet the health needs of the Ziro population.