More than 100 children in Burkina Faso’s eastern region have received free, life-changing surgical care during a ten-day medical campaign held at the Regional Hospital Center (CHR) of Fada N’Gourma.
Running from May 18 to 28, 2025, the initiative was led by the Charles de Gaulle Pediatric University Hospital (CHUP-CDG) in Ouagadougou, in partnership with the Fada N’Gourma CHR.
The campaign is part of the broader National Health Development Plan (PNDS) 2021–2030, focused on improving access to child healthcare across the country.
The pediatric operations, all performed at no cost to the families, targeted children aged between 0 and 14.
The program aimed to address the backlog of young patients awaiting surgical care in the capital, where resources are limited and wait times are long.
By relocating surgical teams to the eastern region, the Ministry of Health hoped to meet the pressing demand more effectively.
“The findings revealed that the Eastern region had a strong need. Organizing this campaign here was essential,” said Iréné Edmond Zagré, General Director of the Fada N’Gourma Hospital. He described the expertise provided by the visiting surgical team as “invaluable” to the hospital’s capacity.
The campaign was led by Professor Isso Ouédraogo, a pediatric surgeon at CHUP-CDG, and included anesthesiologists and health officers. Each day, about ten children were treated for conditions such as hernias, hydroceles, and digestive issues.
“This campaign has made it possible to care for children who have been waiting for a long time. And all of this is free of charge, which considerably eases the burden on families,” noted Zakaria Minoungou, an obstetric nurse at the CHR.
For families like that of Albert Dambina, whose child waited eight months for treatment, the campaign brought immense relief. “After eight months of waiting, it’s a great relief for the whole family,” he said.
The project was funded by the Health Sector Support and COVID-19 Response Project (PSSR II), following similar campaigns previously held in Kaya, Tenkodogo, and Ziniaré.
Source: Burkina 24
