Photo: © Frederico Cavazzini
Burundi can ring a bell in some heads: it is one of the poorest countries in the world. The former Belgian colony is a small east African country that went through a long lasting civil war, from 1962 until 1993. Both the 1972 mass killing of Hutus and the 1993 mass killing of Tutsis are still remaining as terrible stains in the recent history of the country. Reconstruction has been a big challenge, and agencies are working together with the government to improve the lives of the Burundi people. Violence is still a reality but refugee camps have been slowly closing doors.
Some important steps have been taken towards a better society: in 2009 Senators rejected an amendment of the penal code that included provisions for imprisonment of people who have had same-sex intercourse. As every country in Africa, HIV is a major concern. HIV prevalence in Burundi is about 3.3 percent in adults aged 15-49 and there are about 28,000 children living with HIV in the country (UNAIDS, 2009). But there are also good news on this score: at the end of October, the government of Burundi spearheaded a national launch of the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive (there are about 200,000 orphans due to HIV in Burundi).
This effort is truly remarkable from a country still stepping out of a long lasting civil war. Burundi has set the preventions of new HIV infections among children as one of the country’s main challenges. In the end of 2010, the coverage of HIV services reached only about 30 percent of pregnant women. But things are hopefully changing for good: Burundi has developed a national plan for the period of 2011-2015 and has ambitious goals to reach. The big aim is to inform and mobilize the general population towards a new Burundian generation free of HIV, and by general population they mean men should have an important role to play. “Every man should accompany his wife to pre-natal consultation and, jointly with her, request an HIV test”, said Gervais Rufyikiri, 2nd Vice President of Burundi. “Engagement of men is key to the success of this initiative”. The US government sponsors the plan through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The Minister of Health promised family planning and reproductive health will be harmonized and articulated in the health system to promote efficient results in the battle against HIV.
Some important steps have been taken towards a better society: in 2009 Senators rejected an amendment of the penal code that included provisions for imprisonment of people who have had same-sex intercourse. As every country in Africa, HIV is a major concern. HIV prevalence in Burundi is about 3.3 percent in adults aged 15-49 and there are about 28,000 children living with HIV in the country (UNAIDS, 2009). But there are also good news on this score: at the end of October, the government of Burundi spearheaded a national launch of the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive (there are about 200,000 orphans due to HIV in Burundi).
This effort is truly remarkable from a country still stepping out of a long lasting civil war. Burundi has set the preventions of new HIV infections among children as one of the country’s main challenges. In the end of 2010, the coverage of HIV services reached only about 30 percent of pregnant women. But things are hopefully changing for good: Burundi has developed a national plan for the period of 2011-2015 and has ambitious goals to reach. The big aim is to inform and mobilize the general population towards a new Burundian generation free of HIV, and by general population they mean men should have an important role to play. “Every man should accompany his wife to pre-natal consultation and, jointly with her, request an HIV test”, said Gervais Rufyikiri, 2nd Vice President of Burundi. “Engagement of men is key to the success of this initiative”. The US government sponsors the plan through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The Minister of Health promised family planning and reproductive health will be harmonized and articulated in the health system to promote efficient results in the battle against HIV.
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