Kourittenga: The President of the Special Delegation of the Pouytenga municipality, Beno®t Tiemtor©, initiated a measles vaccination campaign this Monday at the Urban 2 Health and Social Promotion Center in Pouytenga. The campaign aims to vaccinate nearly 100,000 children aged 6 months to 10 years across the health district.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the campaign, scheduled from August 3 to 9, 2026, covers the entire Pouytenga health district, focusing on strengthening children's immunity and halting the spread of the measles virus. The Chief Medical Officer of the Pouytenga Health District, Dr. Ibrahim Kabor©, reported that the Pouytenga Medical Center with Surgical Unit has recorded three measles-related deaths.

He emphasized that the campaign addresses the ongoing presence of residual measles cases in the district. "The goal is to allow children in this age group to acquire herd immunity, making up for the shortcomings of previous vaccinations. We are still recording a few residual cases, at a rate of one to two cases per week. The disease is certainly in decline, but it has not yet disappeared," he explained.

Dr. Kabor© highlighted the objective of eradicating measles throughout the Pouytenga health district before aiming for its national elimination. He reassured parents about the vaccine's safety and effectiveness, noting that serious side effects are extremely rare and that health workers are trained to manage any minor reactions.

Anne Compaor©, a parent present at the vaccination site, appealed to other parents, especially mothers, to support the campaign. "When a child is sick, the whole family suffers. We must vaccinate our children to protect them against this deadly disease," she stated, urging mothers to trust the vaccine's efficacy.

Yann Naaba of Pouytenga expressed appreciation for the government's health initiative, encouraging the entire population to mobilize for the campaign's success. "Children represent the future of our country, and we must protect their health," he said.

Beno®t Tiemtor©, the President of the special delegation of the commune of Pouytenga, called for collective prioritization of the campaign among the populations of the three communes in the health district. He urged all community members, including customary and religious authorities, to mobilize and ensure the campaign's success, aiming for the definitive eradication of measles in the district.