The Ministry of Health in Burkina Faso has announced the launch of the National Health Communication Month in Local Languages, which will run from November 2 to 30, 2026. This initiative aims to make health prevention messages more accessible and strengthen the dialogue between healthcare professionals and the population. The campaign was officially presented to the press on October 27, 2026, in Ouagadougou.
The National Health Communication Month in Local Languages is an effort to improve access to comprehensible health information tailored to the linguistic realities of the population. The Ministry of Health, led by Dr. Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou, seeks to address the issue that the effectiveness of health communication depends on the population's ability to understand and own the messages conveyed to them.
The campaign, themed "The Ministry of Health speaks to us in our languages," features a series of activities, including interactive radio programs, specialist interventions, and health prevention messages in local languages. From November 2 to 30, partner radios will broadcast these programs, providing listeners with opportunities to engage with healthcare professionals and receive adapted responses to their concerns.
The campaign's first week will focus on accountability for the actions, reforms, and achievements of the health sector since September 2022. A special program is scheduled for October 31 on Radio Burkina, broadcast in Mooré, with relays from partner radios. The following three weeks will address specific health issues in different regions of Burkina Faso.
Dr. Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou emphasized the importance of accessible communication in preventing diseases, understanding health risks, and making informed decisions. He noted that comprehensible information can protect lives, highlighting the significance of this initiative in promoting health communication in local languages.
To ensure the campaign's success, the Minister of Health has called on journalists, media managers, healthcare sector actors, technical and financial partners, the private sector, and goodwill ambassadors to support the initiative. The campaign aims not only to disseminate awareness messages but also to strengthen relationships between health services and citizens.
The National Health Communication Month in Local Languages is part of the Ministry of Health's efforts to promote health communication and improve health outcomes in Burkina Faso. The campaign's activities will be closely monitored, and its impact will be evaluated to inform future health communication strategies.
Key points
- The Ministry of Health in Burkina Faso launches a month-long campaign to promote health communication in local languages from November 2 to 30, 2026.
- The campaign aims to make health prevention messages more accessible and strengthen the dialogue between healthcare professionals and the population.
- The initiative features interactive radio programs, specialist interventions, and health prevention messages in local languages.
