Burkina Faso: The fight against hepatitis – tangible achievements that underscore the government’s commitment
On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Health commemorated World Hepatitis Day in Ouagadougou under the theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break Down Barriers!” and the slogan “Hepatitis: Let’s Talk About It!” The commemoration highlighted the ongoing efforts deployed in recent years by the Burkinabe government in the face of diseases that are still too often silent, yet heavy with consequences for public health.
According to the coordinator of the Sectoral Health Program for the Fight against HIV/AIDS, STIs, and Viral Hepatitis (PSSLS-IST/HV), Dr. Natyon Dieudonné Soma, hepatitis B and C remain a major challenge in Burkina Faso due to their silent progression and complications cirrhosis and liver cancer which account for nearly 900 deaths recorded in the country.
But far from remaining inactive, health authorities have laid concrete foundations over the past several years: the introduction of systematic hepatitis B vaccination at birth since April 2022, integration of hepatitis B screening into free prenatal check-ups, and effective free treatment for hepatitis C since September 2022, including for pregnant women.
This momentum was further strengthened during the 2026 edition, marked by awareness campaigns, testimonies from people living with hepatitis, voluntary and free or reduced-cost screening sessions in several reference centers, and the mobilization of around twenty partner associations. The interim WHO Resident Representative, Seydou Coulibaly, emphasized that viral hepatitis is not a fatality, but a disease that can be prevented, diagnosed, and, in many cases, effectively treated.
On behalf of civil society, Dr. Ibrahim Koundaba welcomed the progress made by the country, while calling for greater decentralization of care in order to bring screening and treatment services closer to rural populations, who are still too often far from equipped centers.
Through this renewed mobilization, Burkina Faso confirms its determination to contribute to the global goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.
