Burkina Faso Launches Integrated Health Week to Combat Maternal and Infant Mortality
In a significant push to improve public health outcomes, the Ministry of Health and its partners officially inaugurated the National Family Planning Week in the commune of Sabou. The launch, held on Monday, November 10, 2025, strategically combined the event with World Breastfeeding Week and comprehensive screenings for female cancers, sexually transmitted infections, and viral hepatitis.
A Unified Front for Reproductive Health
Under the theme “Reducing maternal and infant mortality through the integration of reproductive health services in a challenging security context,” this integrated campaign represents a cornerstone of the national strategy to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all citizens. The Minister of Health, represented by the High Commissioner of Boulkiemdé province, Salimata Ouédraogo, underscored the critical role of reproductive health in national well-being.
“This week is not only an excellent opportunity for advocacy and social mobilization in favor of reproductive health, but also and above all for intensifying the free provision of reproductive health services to the population,” she stated.
The Stark Reality Behind the Statistics
The official speech laid bare the pressing health challenges facing the nation. With a population surpassing 22 million, Burkina Faso contends with a maternal mortality ratio of 198 deaths per 100,000 live births. The modern contraceptive prevalence rate stands at 32%, while the unmet need for family planning is 16.4%. On average, women have 4.4 children.
The connection between breastfeeding and infant survival was also brought into sharp focus. When children are not exclusively breastfed during their first six months, they become significantly more vulnerable to diarrhea and pneumonia—the two primary killers of infants in the country.
“Intensify Our Efforts”
The health ministry revealed that by helping mothers adopt recommended breastfeeding practices, nearly 50% of deaths in children under two caused by diarrhea and pneumonia could be prevented. This translates to approximately 3,500 preventable child deaths every single year in Burkina Faso—a sobering figure that fuels the campaign’s urgency.
The planned activities for the integrated health week are extensive. They include the provision of free reproductive health services, contraceptive products, and medical supplies across all public health facilities. The initiative also features screenings for precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix, breast cancer, STIs/HIV, and viral hepatitis.
Partners Rally Behind a Common Goal
Echoing the call to action, Cheick Tidiane Ciss, the Acting Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), emphasized the collective responsibility demanded by the campaign’s theme.
“It commits us collectively to intensify our efforts to strengthen the resilience of the health system, guarantee equitable and integrated access to reproductive health services, and ensure that no woman, no child is left behind,” he declared.
Mr. Ciss further explained that the integration of these services is designed to achieve what the UNFPA terms “three transformative results”: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and other harmful practices.
Abdul Aziz Koara, the Prefect and President of the Special Delegation of Sabou, expressed his honor that his commune was chosen to host the national launch, highlighting the local commitment to the health initiative’s success.
Source: Beyon Romain NEBIE