Ouagadougou: The Private and Community Initiative for Health and the HIV/AIDS Response in Burkina Faso (IPC/BF), supported by the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel), organized a consultation workshop in Koupela with partner Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the health districts of Tenkodogo, Koupela, Pouytenga, and Zorgho.

According to Burkina Information Agency, this meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration between local actors to improve the implementation of the project “Promotion of community health and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).” Representatives from health districts, partner CSOs, and IPC/BF discussed collaboration mechanisms to enhance access to quality health services for populations, particularly young people, women, and internally displaced persons.

The project manager at IPC/BF, Belele Ido, stated that the objective was to create a dynamic and participatory consultation framework to pool efforts in promoting community health and local health governance. He emphasized the need for inclusive participation to ensure that COGES considers women, young people, internally displaced persons, and people with disabilities in decision-making and monitoring processes.

Mr. Ido announced that monitoring activities would commence in December to improve health facilities’ functioning, with CSOs playing a central role. The workshop allowed participants to share experiences, identify action synergies, and clarify roles and responsibilities in activities supported by Enabel.

Discussions focused on community monitoring of health services, COGES functioning, and collaboration between health and education sectors regarding sexual and reproductive rights. Dr. Sirima Sompingda Ouedraogo, a reproductive health specialist and project manager at Enabel, highlighted the agency’s commitment to supporting local and participatory approaches to strengthen social accountability and transparency in health service management.

Dr. Delphin Kabore, District Medical Officer of Zorgho, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the need for sector-wide involvement to ensure quality care access. He noted that CSOs are vital for advocacy but stressed the importance of communication and mutual listening.

Participants formulated recommendations to improve stakeholder coordination, information sharing, and activity planning. Delphine Kima of the Agir Toute association in Tenkodogo highlighted the need for CSOs to actively partake in monitoring activities, identify bottlenecks, and implement recommendations from feedback assemblies, aiming to ensure that actions benefit all community members.