Photo Credit: Alexandre Bonneau-Afroto/ALIMA
Life-Saving Health Education via Radio in Burkina Faso
Country: Burkina Faso
Amount: $867,621
Duration: 29 months
Problem
Burkina Faso has an extremely high child mortality rate – 8.3% of children do not survive to their fifth birthday, more than double the global average. The leading causes of these child deaths are pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea, all illnesses that are treatable or preventable with timely care.
The government offers free treatment for these diseases through clinics and community health workers, but many families do not seek care in time. The critical gap is lack of awareness. Caregivers (often parents in rural areas) may not recognize danger signs like fast breathing (pneumonia) or prolonged fever, or they might try traditional remedies at home. By the time they realize the child is gravely ill, it can be too late. Additionally, although Burkina Faso has 32,000 community health workers (CHWs) ready to help, most parents are not aware of these workers or how they can assist – only about 2% of caregivers actively seek help from a CHW. This means a huge public health resource is underutilized, and children die for lack of basic medical attention just a village away.
Approach
Mass Radio Education Campaign: Our grant supports Development Media International (DMI) to scale up “Laafi,” an evidence-based radio campaign that educates the public on child health in an engaging way. DMI specializes in using radio broadcasts to change health behaviors. In this project, DMI produces and airs short, emotionally resonant radio spots 6 to 10 times per day on popular stations across Burkina Faso. These messages cover how to recognize symptoms, the importance of prompt treatment, and encourage listeners to utilize local health services, especially community health workers. The content is delivered in local languages and often through storytelling or song, making it easy to understand and remember.
Nationwide Reach: The campaign will reach an estimated 12.5 million people (a large portion of Burkina’s population). Radio is an ideal medium in Burkina Faso because it is widespread and accessible even in rural areas with low literacy. By repeatedly broadcasting life-saving information, the campaign aims to normalize health-seeking behavior. For instance, a mother who has heard multiple spots about the danger of childhood fever will be more likely to take her child to a health worker at the first sign of severe fever.
Path to Scale
This grant expands a proven strategy. DMI’s approach to radio messaging has been tested in other countries and shown to save lives. In fact, this very campaign (Laafi) has been running in certain regions; our funding allows DMI to scale it nationally and intensify broadcasts. The messages will continue over 29 months, ensuring sustained exposure that can truly shift behaviors and social norms regarding child health.
Given its success, the program has secured long-term funding commitments and is positioned for regional expansion across the Sahel, with active discussions underway.
Why we think the grant is cost-effective
An RCT found that a related DMI program saved lives at a cost of $815, and a cost per DALY (healthy year of life) averted of $22. This makes it among the most cost-effective interventions at reducing child mortality.
The low cost of radio broadcasting ($0.12 per listener) allows for wide reach.