Burkina Faso has reached a pivotal milestone in its ongoing battle against malaria, a disease the nation is determined to eradicate 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 developments with the press in Ouagadougou on Friday, February 20, 2026.
The total number of malaria cases across Burkina Faso saw a significant decrease, falling from 10,805,000 in 2024 to 7,329,000 in 2025. This represents a substantial 32% reduction. Among children under five years old, the decline was even more pronounced, with over 1,900,000 fewer cases, equating to approximately a 38% decrease.
Malaria-related deaths also experienced a dramatic drop, decreasing by 48% from 3,523 fatalities in 2024 to 1,900 in 2025. For children aged under five, the Health Minister reported a reduction of 893 deaths recorded during 2025, highlighting the impact of targeted public health interventions.
According to Dr. Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, Burkina Faso’s objective is unequivocal: «Eliminate malaria by 2030». He emphasized: «To achieve this, we must stay the course, enhance environmental sanitation, strengthen the implementation of high-impact interventions (such as malaria vaccination, consistent use of mosquito nets, and seasonal malaria chemoprevention (CPS+)), boost communication for behavioral change, solidify community engagement, and secure sustainable funding».
The Minister of Health 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 Traoré, who places equitable access to healthcare and population protection at the core of public action».
He further noted that these achievements 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 Multisectoral Committee for the Fight Against Malaria (CONAMEP) has significantly enhanced national coordination. This initiative reinforces the strong conviction that malaria elimination necessitates comprehensive multisectoral mobilization and active community participation.
«The nationwide campaign for the universal and free distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets 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 nets have proven more effective against insecticide resistance compared to the nets previously used in our country», he explained.
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 engagement has bolstered community ownership and collective responsibility».
Additionally, he pointed out that the scaling up of free malaria vaccination, which became effective on August 14, 2025, across all 70 health districts of the country, represents another historic stride in Burkina Faso’s fight against the disease.
For Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, these results are historic because there is a 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 successfully translated prevention tools into effective practices: sleeping under mosquito nets, vaccinating children, and seeking early consultation in case of fever», he stated.
To this end, Minister Kargougou urged all stakeholders to maintain this momentum to meet the challenge of malaria elimination.
«We call upon all actors – local authorities, 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 roll back malaria. Together, we will eliminate malaria in Burkina Faso», he declared.