Burundi still faces challenges in health sector, says Second Vice President

While opening the national conference on health this September 16th, the Burundian Second Vice President has said Burundi is faced with some challenges in health sector despite the step that it has so far made.

Joseph Butore (on the left) calls for more effective collaboration between Burundi and other countries to address challenges in health sector

Joseph Butore, Burundi Second Vice President says the progression of non-communicable diseases as well as epidemics still present challenges in Burundian health sector.

“Maternal mortality, epidemics like Ebola virus which is virulent in the DRC, and the alarming development of chronic diseases have become an emergency for the country,” he says adding that there must be more significant investment in the development of qualitative, adapted and well-equipped infrastructure.

The Second Vice President says the country has made progress in the fight against infectious and inevitable diseases by vaccination.
“Over the past few years, sustained efforts have been made with intense involvement of our partners,” he adds.

He calls for more effective collaboration between Burundi and other countries to address the challenges in health sector.
“We must identify, evaluate and communicate the present and future threats to human health and react accordingly,” Mr. Butore adds.

As for Thaddée Ndikumana, Burundian Minister of Public Health, the complexity of the interaction between health and the economic, social and cultural environment makes the missions of the health sector more difficult to fulfil.

“Everyone must have access to qualitative health care at an affordable cost everywhere,” he says adding that no one should be excluded.
Kazadi Walter Mulombo, Representative of the World Health Organization-WHO in Burundi says it would not be understandable that Burundi stay behind while the rest of the world keeps taking actions to respond to the different challenges in health sector.

“The World Health Organization and other UN organizations will continue to support Burundi in health sector so as to respond to the different challenges,” he says.

The National Conference on Health in Burundi was organized by the Burundian Ministry of Public Health and AIDS Prevention in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

It has started this September 16th and will last three days. The theme of the conference is “Rights to health and well-being for all through multi-sectorial actions and healthcare in all policies”.