New HIV strategy approved in Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has approved a new National Strategic Plan to combat HIV, AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections for the years 2026–2030. The plan, which costs 138.12 billion FCFA (235.3 million USD), aims to accelerate progress toward eliminating AIDS as a public health problem by 2030, though it does not seek to fully eradicate the virus.

Plan replaces previous strategy

The new plan replaces the National Strategic Framework 2021–2025 and was validated during the 23rd ordinary session of the National Council for the Fight Against AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (CNLS-IST) on October 28, 2026. The session was chaired by Captain Martha Céleste Anderson Medah, representing President Ibrahim Traoré, and focused on evaluating past recommendations and reviewing the 2025 Multisectoral National Plan.

Budget allocation and priorities

According to the plan, 41% of the budget will be allocated to care and treatment, 38% to prevention, 16% to governance, and 5% to reducing stigma. This reflects a focus on both medical care and societal attitudes toward people living with HIV. The adoption of the plan comes amid ongoing efforts to combat HIV in the country, but challenges in prevention and care remain.

Current HIV situation in Burkina Faso

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in 2023, the prevalence of HIV among people aged 15–49 was 0.6%, with approximately 97,000 people living with the virus, including 56,000 women and 10,000 children. New infections were estimated at 1,900, and AIDS-related deaths at 2,600, with higher prevalence in urban areas. Mother-to-child transmission remains a public health concern.

Persistent challenges in healthcare access

Despite a decline in prevalence, from 7.17% in 1997 to 0.5% in 2024, the epidemic disproportionately affects certain populations. Difficulties in accessing healthcare, exacerbated by insecurity and humanitarian crises, have increased the vulnerability of internally displaced persons and children. According to UNAIDS, there were approximately 66,000 orphans and other vulnerable children affected by HIV in 2024.

International cooperation to support the plan

The new strategy is being implemented in the context of a health cooperation agreement between Burkina Faso and the United States. On February 25, 2026, the two countries signed a five-year memorandum of understanding, providing up to 147 million USD in funding to support the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other infectious diseases. In return, Ouagadougou has committed to increasing national health spending by 107 million USD over the same period.