Burkina Faso is charting a new course in public health by directly delivering free cervical cancer screening to the heart of its communities, from remote villages to bustling local markets. This nationwide effort is overcoming deep-seated barriers of cost and distance that have long left women unprotected against one of the country’s deadliest cancers.
Previously, fewer than eight percent of women had access to screening, with rural women facing journeys of dozens or even hundreds of kilometers to reach a health center. The government’s bold response has been to declare screening and treatment free and to deploy mobile clinics that travel directly to where women live and work.
Dr Nayi Zongo, who leads the National Cancer Control Programme, emphasizes the shift in approach: “We moved the service to the community so women can safeguard their health without abandoning their fields, their markets, or their families.”
The initiative’s strength lies in its integration of multiple strategies: eliminating medical fees, deploying mobile health units, and launching widespread public campaigns through media and local partnerships. The World Health Organization has provided essential technical support, helping to train health workers and guide national policy.
The impact is both profound and measurable. From October 2024 to September 2025, mobile clinics conducted hundreds of missions across the country, raising awareness among nearly two million women and performing over one hundred thousand screenings. These numbers represent real lives protected and families kept intact.
Awa, a mother of six from Ipendo, recalls her initial fear when hearing the town crier announce a screening visit. “I was afraid of what they might find,” she shares. “But I thought of my children and went. When the result was clear, I felt a great relief. Now I tell every woman: this service is for us, and it can save your life.”
Dr Seydou Coulibaly, the WHO Representative in Burkina Faso, highlights the broader significance of this success. “Burkina Faso demonstrates that with political will and tailored solutions, even the most stubborn health challenges can be addressed. This model of free, mobile care is a powerful inspiration for the entire region.”
Beyond the medical statistics, this program carries a deeper message of dignity and social justice, affirming that every woman, no matter where she lives, has the right to health and a future.
Source: WHO
