On November 7, 2014, the Burkina Faso Ministry of Health authorized a family planning tasksharing pilot project in the Centre and Boucle du Mouhoun Regions of the country. Family planning stakeholders had pursued task-sharing policy changes for five years before Advance Family Planning (AFP) local partner Équilibres et Populations led focused advocacy to see it through alongside the national Technical Working Group for Reproductive Health (GT/SR). The pilot is the first step in providing the needed evidence for a national policy in line with World Health Organization task-sharing guidance and greater uptake of the new subcutaneous injectable, Sayana® Press. The pilot will assess allowing certified nurses and auxiliary birth attendants to insert implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs) and permitting community health workers to provide first prescription of the pill and contraceptive injectables.
