🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
African Forum on Innovations in Occupational Health, Safety, and Well-being opens in Ouagadougou
via Lefaso.net4 min read
The first African Forum on Innovations in Occupational Health, Safety, and Well-being AFRISST has commenced in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Organized by Sahelors Consulting and @communication agency, the event focuses on "Technological Innovations in Occupational Health and Safety: Challenges and Prospects for Sustainable Business Development in Africa." Dr. Sounkalo Djibo, president of the organizing committee, highlighted how technological advancements like artificial intelligence, robotics, connected objects, big data analysis, and virtual reality are transforming production methods and work organization. He emphasized that these innovations offer significant opportunities to prevent occupational risks, improve working conditions, and enhance business performance. Dr. Djibo stated that AFRISST aims for Africa to master technological changes to drive social progress, competitiveness, and sustainable development, asserting that human ingenuity and creativity remain irreplaceable. He reiterated that investing in occupational health and safety is an investment in productivity, competitiveness, and business sustainability. The three-day forum includes conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and roundtables, bringing together participants from health, mining, and other sectors to share experiences and promote innovative solutions tailored to African realities. The event is co-presided by the Minister of Servants of the People and the Minister of Health, who both commended the initiat
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The Council of Ministers of Burkina Faso, acting on behalf of the Presidency of Faso, adopted a decree on July 2, 2026, to create the Faso Technology Academy. This elite institution will be directly attached to the Presidency of Faso due to its strategic importance. According to government spokesperson Pingdwendé Gilbert Ouédraogo, the academy aims to train individuals who can apply their intelligence and skills to design, create, and manufacture, thereby supporting the country's industrialization drive. Construction of the academy began in December 2025 and is nearing completion. It is set to welcome its first cohorts into highly specialized fields such as metallurgy, nuclear technology, aeronautics, cybersecurity, and mining professions.
Must ReadDr. Paul Ayelo, a professor of occupational medicine at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin, presented at the African Forum for Innovations in Health, Safety, and Well-being at Work AFRISST in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from July 2 to 4, 2026. He argued that current occupational health and safety OHS policies in Africa must integrate climate change considerations to be truly sustainable. Dr. Ayelo highlighted that Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including droughts, floods, heatwaves, coastal erosion, and increased vector-borne diseases, which directly affect professional risks and socio-economic development. He emphasized that climate change is a direct factor in occupational risks, citing examples like water stress affecting agricultural activities and increased disease vectors due to heat and humidity. Dr. Ayelo stressed that OHS policies are commitments to prevent professional risks and ensure safe work environments, but these ambitions are difficult to achieve without integrating climate risks from the policy design stage. He outlined various climate risks, such as intense droughts, large-scale fires, rising sea levels, and more frequent storms. Dr. Sounkalo Djibo, CEO of Sahelors Consulting, supported Dr. Ayelo's perspective, noting the challenging conditions in industrial workplaces, where heat can be a major factor. Dr. Cyriaque Paré, a research professor at the Institute of Social Sciences INSS, questioned the actual level of awareness amon
Must ReadDuring the Council of Ministers meeting on Thursday, July 2, 2026, the government of Burkina Faso adopted a decree regulating humanitarian interventions in the country. The new text mandates compulsory accreditation for humanitarian organizations, prioritizes early recovery and beneficiary empowerment, and strengthens the protection of beneficiary dignity while promoting local consumption. According to the Minister of Family and Solidarity, Lieutenant-Colonel Passowendé Pélagie Kaboré, this accreditation will allow the state to monitor the distribution of organizations across the national territory and their intervention zones. Additionally, 60% of funding must now be directed towards early recovery and empowerment to reduce the dependence of vulnerable people on prolonged aid. The decree also prohibits displaying images of vulnerable individuals alongside donations and enshrines the principle of local consumption in the acquisition of donations for vulnerable populations.