Ouagadougou — The HIV prevalence rate in Burkina Faso has seen a substantial decline, from 7.17% in 1997 to 0.6% at the end of 2022,
According to a new release by Burkina Information Agency, While these numbers indicate significant progress, officials stress that continued efforts are necessary to prevent a resurgence of the disease, particularly among young people and other high-risk groups.
The data, released during the 20th ordinary session of the National Council for the Fight against AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (CNLS-IST), revealed that approximately 88,000 people are currently living with HIV in the country. Furthermore, 1,700 new infections were recorded in the year 2021.
Despite the overall reduction in prevalence, the issue remains more acute among women and “key populations,” as well as in certain regions of Burkina Faso, including Center, South-West, Hauts-Bassins, and Center-West.
Representing the Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Captain Anderson Méda emphasized the government’s commitment to eliminating HIV/AIDS as a public health concern by 2030. He also acknowledged the adoption of a new framework aimed at achieving improved results in the battle against the disease.