Despite modest increases in government funding and the expansion of its range of health interventions, Burkina Faso continues to face important challenges in the health sector. Communicable diseases remain the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in the country - malaria continues to be a leading cause of illness and death in Burkina Faso, with an estimated 8.1 million cases and 19,979 deaths in 2020, as well as the number one cause of mortality for children under the age of five. According to the Ministry of Health, malaria accounts for 43 percent of consultations with a health provider and 22 percent of deaths. High fertility rates of an average of 5.4 births per woman have improved in recent years but still result in 28 percent of women (aged 20-24) giving birth before age 18, while the country experiences an under-five mortality rate of 85 deaths per 1,000 live births.