Status of the epidemic
Burkina Faso, directly hit by the pandemic, comes second in the West African sub-region after Côte d’Ivoire.
The numerous factors responsible for the spread of HIV in Burkina include:
· The continental characteristics of the country (shares borders with 6 countries)
· Multi-sharing of partners (polygamy, spurious monogamy, prostitution…)
· Levirate: a widow is compelled to marry her deceased husband’s younger brother – a common practice among ethnic groups such as the Mossé
· High internal and external migration flows
· The precarious situation of women and young girls (physiological and economic vulnerability)
· Therapeutic history: generally, patients will attend health facilities after the infection has reached an advanced stage.
According to the latest UNAIDS Report 2006, Burkina Faso is experiencing a generalised epidemic and the HIV prevalence among adults aged between 15 and 49 years is estimated at 2%, while the number of adults and children living with HIV is estimated at 140 000. As usual, the rates are much higher among the vulnerable groups.
It should, however, be noted that the prevalence rate in Burkina is among the very few that have registered a decline over recent years (2.1% in 2003).
The national strategy
Faced with that situation, Burkina Faso launched its fight against AIDS as early as in the mid 80s. At national level, structures like the CNLS (National Commission to fight AIDS) have been set up to coordinate anti-AIDS programmes and a national framework to fight AIDS has been adopted (2001-2005). Projects wholly or partially devoted to this fight have been launched (PROMACO=promotion of the use of condoms, PPLS, SFPS…).
The National Council against AIDS and STI (CNLS/STI) is the main body coordinating the National Programme against AIDS. It is headed by a Permanent Secretary, Dr. Colonel Joseph André Tiendrébéogo.
The private sector
Twenty-one companies have committed themselves to the fight against AIDS – according to a list published by CNLS in 2005. It would seem that 12 others are about to join the fight…
Some of these are: BICIA-B, Brakina, CFAO, CNSS, Hôtel Silmande, GMB, SOBEA Group, SOFITEX, SONABEL, TOTAL…
However, there is no platform or coalition against AIDS as such.
Tel: + 226 50369713
Mobile: + 226 76619642
SIDA-ENTREPRISES member companies in Burkina Faso
ACCOR : Hotel Silmandé and Sofitel Ouaga 2000
BGI: BRAKINA
BNP Paribas : BICIA-B
BOLLORE : SDV et SNTB
CFAO : CFAO Automobile, CFAO Technologies et Laborex
GRAS SAVOYE : GRAS SAVOYE Burkina
Imperial Tobacco : MABUCIG
SOGEA-SATOM : SOGEA-SATOM
Société Générale : SGBB
TOTAL : TOTAL Burkina
Available documentation / Links
National Commission against AIDS (Comité National de Lutte contre le SIDA) Burkina Faso
UNGASS report - Burkina Faso - 2005
Latest Update: October 2006 
