Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
Certain information website have fueled the recent rumor that suggests President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso has introduced free maternity services for pregnant women. However, this claim is unfounded as no official statement from the presidency has been made. The initiative for free childbirth services was launched in 2016 under former President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. President Traoré, who assumed office in 2022, has since focused on enhancing the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
Background
In March 2016, the Burkinabé government, led by President Kaboré, implemented a policy making maternal and child healthcare services free in public facilities. According to WHO Regional office for Africa, the policy initially covered the Sahel, Hauts-Bassins and Center regions starting April 1, 2016 but was later extended nationwide by June 1, 2016. This initiative aimed to reduce financial barriers and improve access to essential healthcare for pregnant women and children under five. The policy led to significant increases in facility-based deliveries and consultations with a study by PubMed Central that reported on significant rise in consultation.
It is worth noting that since taking office in 2022, President Traoré has continued prioritising the development of healthcare infrastructure and services. In 2023, he reportedly inaugurated the Emergency Medical Assistance Service (SAMU) that operates 25 fully equipped ambulances, in July he donated 15 mobile care units and cold chain equipment to the Ministry of health and public hygiene. He equally inaugurated the first hemodialysis unit at the Tekodogo Regional Hospital.
Conclusion
While Burkina Faso has made significant strides in improving healthcare access, the introduction of free maternity services occurred in 2016 under President Kaboré and not President Traoré as other news website suggest. It’s essential to verify information through credible sources to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Interesting…