Burkina Faso has achieved a remarkable milestone in its ongoing battle against malaria, a disease the nation is committed to eradicating by 2030. The year 2025 witnessed an unprecedented reduction in both malaria cases and associated fatalities. These significant advancements were announced by the Minister of Health, Dr. Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, during a press briefing held in Ouagadougou on Friday, February 20, 2026.
The total number of malaria infections across Burkina Faso decreased substantially from 10,805,000 cases in 2024 to 7,329,000 cases in 2025, marking an impressive 32% decline. Among children under five years old, this reduction was even more pronounced, with over 1,900,000 fewer cases, representing approximately a 38% drop.
Fatalities attributed to malaria also saw a dramatic decrease, falling from 3,523 deaths in 2024 to 1,900 deaths in 2025 — a significant 48% reduction. For children under the age of five, the Health Minister reported a decrease of 893 recorded deaths in 2025.
According to Dr. Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Burkina Faso’s goal is unequivocal: «Eliminate malaria by 2030.» He emphasized, «To achieve this, we must maintain our current trajectory, enhance environmental sanitation, bolster the implementation of high-impact interventions (malaria vaccination, use of mosquito nets, Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention plus), intensify communication for behavioral change, solidify community engagement, and ensure sustainable funding.»
The Minister of Health underscored that these positive outcomes are not merely coincidental. «They stem from 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,» he stated. He further noted that «They also reflect the unwavering commitment of the Government and the collective mobilization of all national stakeholders and partners.»
Dr. Kargougou highlighted that the establishment of the National Multi-sectoral Committee for Malaria Control (CONAMEP) has significantly strengthened national coordination. This initiative reinforces the strong belief that malaria elimination requires broad multi-sectoral 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 latest-generation bi-impregnated nets, with a clear objective: to achieve an utilization rate of at least 80%. These new-generation bi-impregnated mosquito nets have proven more effective against insecticide resistance compared to those previously used in our country,» he added.
To ensure equitable protection for households, over 33,000 community volunteers and 7,000 health workers traversed cities and villages, including those in security-challenged areas, as confirmed by the Health Minister. He affirmed, «This localized approach has fostered greater community ownership and collective responsibility.»
Furthermore, he mentioned that the scaling up of free malaria vaccination, implemented across all 70 health districts nationwide since August 14, 2025, represents another historic stride in Burkina Faso’s fight against the disease.
For Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, the historical significance of these results also lies in the widespread understanding that the fight against malaria is fundamentally a battle of behaviors 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 elaborated.
In light of these achievements, Minister Kargougou urged all stakeholders to maintain this momentum and 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 populace – 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 concluded.
