Burkina Faso: Mobilization of health actors for zero maternal and perinatal deaths
Key health actors in Burkina Faso, including regional governors, regional directors, and hospital directors, gathered on Thursday, January 30, 2025, in Ouagadougou. The meeting aimed to strengthen the monitoring of maternal and perinatal deaths and establish an effective response to this persistent issue, despite measures in place since 2012.
Despite initiatives such as free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five, the figures remain alarming. The number of maternal deaths rose from 905 in 2023 to 926 in 2024, a troubling increase that has prompted the Ministry of Health to intensify its efforts. According to the Minister of Health, Dr. Robert Lucien Jean Claude Kargougou, each death is an avoidable tragedy, and it is essential to strengthen monitoring and coordination of actions.
The ongoing workshop aims to define strategies to address the primary causes of these deaths. Among the identified factors are delays in patient consultations, difficulties in transportation to health facilities, and shortcomings in medical care.
Dr. Adama Ouattara, a mission officer at the Ministry of Health, clarified that many deaths are due to complications such as hemorrhages, infections, and severe hypertension. In 2024, approximately 300 women died from uncontrolled bleeding, while prematurity remains a major cause of neonatal deaths.
The Ministry of Health’s report shows an increase in early neonatal deaths, rising from 7.643 in 2023 to approximately 8.285 in 2024. Similarly, stillbirths increased from 5.458 in 2023 to 5.907 in 2024. These figures highlight the urgency for a coordinated effort to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in Burkina Faso.
