Burkina Faso has a total population of almost 16 million people, with an average of life expectancy at birth of 49 for male and 56 for female, a high rate of children deaths and a large burden of diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis among others. WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends. The WHO carries and important work on Burkina Faso and the African region, as one of the most precarious areas in terms of health.
