The Burkina Faso government has achieved a historic milestone in its fight against malaria, with a dramatic reduction in both cases and fatalities in 2025 as the nation pushes toward elimination by 2030.
During a press briefing in Ouagadougou, Dr. Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Minister of Health, unveiled striking declines in malaria statistics. Total cases plummeted from 10,805,000 in 2024 to 7,329,000 in 2025—a 32% drop. Among children under 5, the reduction exceeded 1,900,000 cases, representing a 38% decrease.
Malaria-related deaths also fell sharply from 3,523 in 2024 to 1,900 in 2025, marking a 48% decline. In the same age group, deaths dropped from 893 to just 200.
Government sets sights on malaria elimination by 2030
Dr. Kargougou emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment: “Our goal is clear: to eliminate malaria in Burkina Faso by 2030. To succeed, we must maintain momentum by strengthening sanitation, scaling up high-impact interventions—such as malaria vaccination, insecticide-treated nets, and seasonal chemoprevention—and reinforcing behavior change communication.”
The Minister highlighted the pivotal role of multisectoral collaboration, noting that the National Malaria Control Committee (CONAMEP) has unified efforts across government agencies, civil society, and local communities.
Community-led strategies drive prevention and awareness
The Minister credited the success to President Ibrahim Traoré’s leadership and the government’s focus on equitable healthcare access. He stressed that eliminating malaria requires more than medical solutions: “This achievement reflects a nationwide commitment to behavioral change and social responsibility.”
He outlined key strategies including:
- Universal distribution of next-generation long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), with over 15 million distributed to achieve an 80% usage rate.
- Free malaria vaccination, launched nationwide on August 14, 2025, across all 70 health districts.
- Community engagement through 33,000 volunteers and 7,000 health workers who delivered prevention tools even in high-risk and insecure areas.
Dr. Kargougou praised the effectiveness of bi-impregnated mosquito nets, which show greater resistance to insecticide resistance compared to previous models.
From awareness to action: building a malaria-free future
The Minister emphasized the importance of social mobilization: “We transformed prevention tools into everyday practices: sleeping under nets, vaccinating children, and seeking early care for fever.” He credited targeted campaigns, partnerships with religious and community leaders, and media engagement for driving behavioral change.
Looking ahead, he called on all stakeholders—local governments, civil society, technical partners, and citizens—to sustain the momentum: “Together, we’ve proven malaria can be pushed back dramatically. Together, we will eliminate it in Burkina Faso by 2030.”
