On 9th March 2020, Burkina Faso recorded its first cases of COVID-19. The country is now one of the most affected in Africa with 1'003 confirmed cases and 53 deaths as of 8th July 2020. Nine of the 13 health regions in the country are affected by the epidemic.

To support the Ministry of Health in Burkina Faso in combatting COVID-19, Enfants du Monde is providing protective equipment for caregivers and information for the population, in collaboration with our local partner IPC/BF (Private and Community Initiative for Health and Response to HIV/AIDS in Burkina Faso) and with financial support from our donors and the Swiss Directorate for Development and Cooperation (DDC).

Watch the arrival of the equipment on the RTB Burkinabe channel:

Broadcasting information and distributing equipment

630 radio spots with awareness-raising messages have already been broadcast and 2,480 posters on how to prevent COVID-19 distributed.

On Monday 11th May, the first consignment of protective equipment for caregivers in 3 Centre-Est health districts (Tenkodogo, Koupéla and Zabré) was delivered to Tenkogodo. This consists of:

• 121 hand-washing devices;
• 1,920 bottles of hydro-alcoholic gel;
• 1,180 packs of examination gloves
• 18,870 protective breathing masks, of which 12,650 medical masks and 6,220 N95 masks.

The remaining equipment has been delivered to 2 districts (Barsalogho in the Centre-Nord region and Mangodara in the Cascades region) at the end of May.

The arrival of this equipment means that these 115 health centres have protective equipment, so that continued interventions on COVID-19 and maternal, newborn and child health can be more targeted.