BUJUMBURA June 3rd (ABP) – The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS, Dr Olivier Nijimbere officially launched, on Tuesday May 30, 2023, in Bujumbura, the “AMAGARA YACU” project led by a consortium made up of the French Red Cross, the Burundi Red Cross, Amref Health Africa, the Mérieux Foundation and benefits from the financial support of France via the French Development Agency (AFD) to the tune of 10 million euros for a period of three years.
According to the President of the Burundi Red Cross, Mrs. Christine Ntahe, the said project aims to improve the quality of the supply of primary health care and epidemiological surveillance, by strengthening, on the one hand, human resources in health with the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) and by consolidating, on the other hand, epidemiological monitoring capacities thanks to the strengthening of the National Public Health Laboratory.
She added that this project is also oriented in the blood transfusion sector, through the optimization of collections, blood management and the production of blood products in collaboration with the National Center for Blood Transfusion (CNTS). Particular attention will be paid to gender inequalities hindering the right to health and access to care, Mrs. Ntahe said.
She did not fail to point out that the Burundi Red Cross is delighted with the good relations it maintains with the various partners and more particularly those of the government of Burundi. According to her, the Burundi Red Cross also appreciates the various interactions it has with the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS.
According to Dr. Nijimbere, the said project comes at the right time, because Burundi has just adopted a vision of an emerging Burundi in 2040 and a developed country in 2060. According to him, in the priorities related to health, there are two goals including improving access to basic health care for all and developing state-of-the-art hospital services. He did not forget to mention that this project is the result of good collaboration between the Republic of Burundi and its development partners through the various ministries, including that of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS. He also thanked the Burundi Red Cross which continues to support the ministry in charge of health through programs related to health.
For his part, the Ambassador of France to Burundi, Mr. Jeremie Blin, said that this project will strengthen the relations of friendship and cooperation between France and Burundi. It is part of the different strategies of the national development plan of Burundi (PND2018-2027), and health being one of the main priorities of the government of Burundi.
He pointed out that France intervenes a lot in the field of health, especially in the fight against pandemics, tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS. The French Ambassador to Burundi also promised that this country will continue to carry out other activities in other areas, especially vocational training and energy.