In continuity with the formative research initiative conducted the previous month in Mali, a similar stakeholders’ workshop was organised in Burkina Faso on 10th and 11th April 2025.
The event was held at the Conference Hall of Hôtel Tantiga in Ziniaré and was attended by 85 participants, both in person and virtually.
The primary objective of the workshop was to disseminate detailed information on the study design and objectives, and to facilitate a participatory process for the co-development of context-specific intervention implementation strategies tailored to the socio-demographic and health system characteristics of the study site in Burkina Faso.
The meeting was organised by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique/ Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (CNRST/IRSS) in close collaboration with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, the lead institutution of WP6, focused on formative research, acceptability, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness.
The workshop opened with welcoming remarks from the Mayor of Ziniaré, followed by speeches from the Deputy Director General of CNRST and a representative of the Governor of the Plateau Central region. The opening session highlightedthe strategic relevance of malaria vaccine research in the broader context of strengthening disease prevention for vulnerable populations.
The event brought together key stakeholders from national, regional, and local levels who are actively involved in the planning and implementation of malaria vaccination in Burkina Faso.
Participants included representatives from a broad range of administrative, health, and community sectors:
- Administrative authorities: representative of the Governor of the Plateau Central region, heads of the Oubritenga and Kourweogo provinces, Mayor of Ziniaré
- Representatives of CRNST and IRSS
- Ministry of Health representatives: Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), and Pharmacovigilance departments from the regulatory authority
- Regional and health district representatives
- Chief nurses of all 20 health centers involved in the study
- Regional traditional and religious leaders
- Regional vaccination champion
- Community organizations representatives
- NGOs: USAID, JHPIEGO, PMI, Global Fund, PATH, Malaria Consortium, CHAI
Following opening remarks, a presentation session was held:
- Prof. Halidou Tinto from CNRST introduced malaria vaccines and explained the rationale behind integrating R21/MM vaccination with Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC).
- Dr. Magloire Natama, Scientific Coordinator of the IMVACS project, presented the study’s objectives and design.
- The national EPI provided an overview of challenges faced during RTS,S deployment
The presentations were followed by an open discussion with stakeholders focusing on the potential effects of the introduction of R21, study Implementation, communication and community engagement, coordination and collaboration.
The workshop ended with participants reiterating their strong commitment to the successful implementation of the study and the intention to convene a second stakeholder engagement meeting locally in Boussé, targeting representatives from the study catchment area.
