Burkina Faso’s historic malaria decline fuels 2030 elimination goal

Burkina Faso has reached a significant milestone in its ongoing battle against malaria, a disease the nation is committed to eradicating by 2030. The year 2025 marked an unprecedented reduction in both malaria cases and fatalities. Dr. Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, the Minister of Health, shared these encouraging updates during a press conference held in Ouagadougou on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The total number of malaria cases across Burkina Faso saw a substantial decrease, dropping from 10,805,000 in 2024 to 7,329,000 in 2025, representing a 32% reduction. For children under five years old, this decline was even more pronounced, with over 1,900,000 fewer cases, approximately a 38% decrease.

Furthermore, malaria-related deaths experienced a dramatic fall, from 3,523 reported in 2024 to 1,900 in 2025—a remarkable 48% decrease. Among children under the age of five, the Minister of Health highlighted an 893-death reduction recorded in 2025.

Dr. Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou articulated Burkina Faso’s clear aspiration: “To eliminate malaria by 2030.” He emphasized the multifaceted approach required to achieve this ambitious goal, stating, “To succeed, we must sustain our current momentum, improve living environment sanitation, enhance the deployment of high-impact interventions such as malaria vaccination, widespread use of mosquito nets, and Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC+). Additionally, strengthening communication for behavioral change, solidifying community engagement, and ensuring sustainable funding are crucial.“

The Minister of Health underscored that these positive outcomes are not coincidental. He attributed them to “a clear political vision, championed by His Excellency the President of Faso, Head of State, Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, who prioritizes equitable access to healthcare and the protection of citizens at the core of public policy.”

These achievements also reflect the unwavering commitment of the Government and the collective mobilization of all national stakeholders and international partners, as he highlighted.

According to Dr. Kargougou, the establishment of the National Multisectoral Committee for Malaria Control (CONAMEP) has significantly enhanced national coordination. This initiative reinforces the strong belief that successful malaria elimination hinges on broad multisectoral mobilization and active community participation.

He further elaborated, “The nationwide campaign for universal and free distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets has facilitated the distribution of nearly 15 million latest-generation bi-impregnated nets, with a clear target: an utilization rate of at least 80%. These new-generation bi-impregnated mosquito nets have proven more effective against insecticide resistance compared to the nets previously used in our country.“

The Minister of Health also confirmed that over 33,000 community volunteers and 7,000 health agents traversed urban and rural areas, including regions facing security challenges, to ensure equitable household protection. He asserted, “This close engagement has bolstered community ownership and collective responsibility.“

He also highlighted that the nationwide rollout of free malaria vaccination, implemented across all 70 health districts since August 14, 2025, represents another historic stride in Burkina Faso’s fight against the disease.

Dr. Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou asserted that these historical achievements stem from a universal understanding that combating malaria is fundamentally a battle of behaviors and social acceptance.
“Community mobilization and effective communication have been central to our strategy. Information campaigns tailored to local contexts, the active involvement of community and religious leaders, door-to-door awareness efforts, and media engagement have successfully translated prevention tools into actionable practices: sleeping under mosquito nets, ensuring children are vaccinated, and seeking early medical consultation for fever.“

In light of this progress, Minister Kargougou urged all involved stakeholders to maintain and escalate these efforts to meet the challenge of malaria elimination.

He concluded with a powerful call to action: “We appeal to all stakeholders—territorial collectives, civil society organizations, technical and financial partners, community leaders, media, and the general population—to continue and intensify this momentum. Together, we have proven that it is possible to significantly curb malaria. Together, we will eliminate malaria in Burkina Faso.“