Burkina Faso has achieved a remarkable milestone in its fight against malaria, a disease the nation is committed to eradicating by 2030. The year 2025 marked an unprecedented reduction in both malaria cases and associated fatalities. Dr. Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, the Minister of Health, shared these encouraging results with the press on Friday, February 20, 2026, in Ouagadougou.
The total number of malaria cases across Burkina Faso saw a significant drop from 10,805,000 in 2024 to 7,329,000 in 2025, representing a substantial 32% decrease. For children under the age of five, the reduction was even more pronounced, with over 1,900,000 fewer cases, approximately a 38% decline.
Malaria-related deaths also plummeted by 48%, falling from 3,523 in 2024 to 1,900 in 2025. Among children under five, Dr. Kargougou highlighted a reduction of 893 deaths recorded during 2025.
According to Dr. Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Burkina Faso’s objective is unequivocal: «Eliminate malaria by 2030». He emphasized, «To achieve this, we must maintain our current trajectory, enhance environmental sanitation, intensify the implementation of high-impact interventions (including malaria vaccination, the consistent use of mosquito nets, and CPS+), bolster communication for behavioral change, solidify community engagement, and secure sustainable funding».
The Health Minister underscored that these positive outcomes are not coincidental. «They are the direct result of 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 population protection at the core of public action.
These achievements also reflect the unwavering commitment of the Government and the collective mobilization of all national stakeholders and partners», he further noted.
Dr. Kargougou elaborated that the establishment of the National Multisectoral Committee for Malaria Control (CONAMEP) has strengthened national coordination and affirmed a strong belief: that malaria elimination cannot succeed without multisectoral mobilization and active community participation.
«The nationwide campaign for the universal and free distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets facilitated the distribution of nearly 15 million new-generation bi-impregnated nets, with a clear objective: to achieve an utilization rate of at least 80%.
These innovative bi-impregnated mosquito nets have proven more effective against insecticide resistance compared to the nets previously used in our country», he stated.
More than 33,000 community volunteers and 7,000 health agents traversed cities and villages, including those in security-challenged areas, to ensure equitable protection for households, according to the Health Minister. He affirmed, «This close outreach has bolstered community ownership and collective responsibility».
Furthermore, he added that the nationwide rollout of free malaria vaccination, effective since August 14, 2025, across all 70 health districts of the country, represents another historic advancement in Burkina Faso’s fight against malaria.
For Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, the historical nature of these results also stems from a collective understanding that the battle against malaria is fundamentally a struggle for behavioral change and social adherence.
«Community mobilization and communication have been central to our strategy. Information campaigns tailored to local realities, the involvement of community and religious leaders, door-to-door awareness efforts, and media engagement have transformed prevention tools into effective practices: sleeping under mosquito nets, vaccinating children, and seeking early consultation in case of fever», he explained.
To this end, Minister Kargougou urged all involved actors to persist in this momentum to overcome the challenge of malaria elimination.
«We call upon all stakeholders: territorial communities, civil society organizations, technical and financial partners, community leaders, media, and the general population, to continue and intensify this dynamic. Together, we have demonstrated that it is possible to significantly reduce malaria. Together, we will eliminate malaria in Burkina Faso», he declared.
