*The PMI VectorLink Burkina Faso project closed out on March 31, 2023.
Malaria remains a major public health issue in Burkina Faso and is endemic throughout the country. In 2021, Burkina Faso accounted for 3.3 percent of total malaria cases and 3.4 percent of total malaria deaths. Malaria prevention and control activities are guided by a national malaria control strategy, which supports the long-term vision of eliminating malaria in Burkina Faso by 2030. The strategy includes support for vector control, seasonal malaria chemoprevention for children under five years of age, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women, case management, and behavior change communication.
With the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) funding, indoor residual spraying (IRS) was included as a priority vector control strategy and was implemented annually from 2018 to 2021. PMI VectorLink conducted spray operations in Burkina Faso in 2018 in the district of Kampti, Solenzo and Kongoussi; in 2019 in Kampti, Solenzo and Kongoussi; in 2020 in Kampti and Solenzo; and in 2021 in Kampti and Solenzo. The Kongoussi district was only sprayed in 2018 and 2019, and later removed as an IRS district due to security issues.
In addition, a mass distribution of 1.5 million piperonyl butoxide (PBO)-synergist PermaNet 3.0 and 2 million dual-AI Interceptor G2 brand ITNs was conducted between June and October 2019. ITNs were also delivered to pregnant women via antenatal care services and to children under one who have completed their vaccinations. PMI VectorLink assessed ITN delivery via these routine health services.
In 2022, the project worked in close collaboration with the Institute of Research on Health Sciences/Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS) and the NMCP to conduct activities in-country. Those included conducting monthly entomological monitoring in seven sites from June 2022 to September 2022, completing an evaluation of the 2018 IRS campaign, and completing a remote training-of-trainers for the 36-month durability monitoring round of the 2019 mass ITN distribution of nets.
PMI VectorLink Burkina Faso also provided technical support to the NMCP in planning and conducting a mini-IRS campaign in the district of Dangouna and Lokiéhoun with VectorLink Burkina Faso’s leftover Actellic 300CS insecticide. The campaign took place from August 12-16, 2022, in Dangouna and from October 18-25 in Lokiéhoun; the NMCP sprayed a total of 4,786 structures, protecting 15,510 people from malaria, including 2,435 children under five 404 pregnant women.
In 2023, the team continued its entomological monitoring through IRSS, wrapped up its work on the 36-month durability monitoring report, and finalized the 2021 IRS impact evaluation.