BUJUMBURA October 14th (ABP) – The Office of the First Lady for Development in Burundi (OPDD-Burundi) is organizing from October 10 to 12, 2022, in Bujumbura, a high-level forum of women leaders under the theme: “Health and nutrition for women, newborns, children and adolescents.
In his speech, the Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi Prosper Bazombaza who had represented the President of the Republic of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye at the opening of that forum, indicated that the theme was well chosen because it falls within the priorities of the country.
He also added that this forum seeks to assess the nutritional status in Burundi and decide on effective strategies for improving the nutritional system in Burundi. He took that opportunity to congratulate the first lady of Burundi Angeline Ndayishimiye through the OPDD – Burundi, has already carried out several activities aimed at improving health and nutrition, and especially that she is the godmother of the program of school canteens in basic schools.
He also commended the fact that the President of the Republic of Burundi has made agriculture a priority, which has contributed to the increase in agricultural production. He did not forget to point out that currently, the statistics of the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS show a significant reduction in acute malnutrition in children under 5 years of age. It is also an opportunity to congratulate the government of Burundi for the implementation of several strategies aimed at improving the health and nutrition of the Burundians.
Speaking, the First Lady of Burundi Angélique Ndayishimiye indicated that the said forum is organized with the aim of giving the opportunity to Burundian women leaders and those coming from the 4 corners of the world, to exchange and reflect on the means and sustainable resilient actions that can contribute to improving the health and nutrition of women, newborns, children and adolescents. According to her, the involvement of women leaders through their sustainable resilient actions in communities is an asset in improving health and reducing malnutrition.
The First Lady of Burundi took advantage of that opportunity to challenge women leaders and other stakeholders in the sector of health and nutrition, to define methods and strategies likely to enable them to achieve good health and nutrition in the mother, newborn, child and adolescent.
Note that the former First Lady of the United Republic of Tanzania Salma Kikwete, the delegates of the First Ladies of Equatorial Guinea, DRC, South Sudan, Liberia participated in this forum. On the side of Burundi, MPs, members of the government, executives of the presidency and the prime minister, representatives of United Nations agencies in Burundi, women’s associations are taking part in this high-level meeting.