Burundi: Coronavirus pandemic updates
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol IV, Issue #170 | Tuesday, May 4, 2021
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Dear Readers,
This Monday, May 3rd, the National Committee responsible for monitoring the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic in Burundi held a Meeting in Bujumbura at the Ministry of Public Health and the fight against AIDS, it was an opportunity to share with the members of the press key updates about coronavirus in Burundi.
Dr. Thaddée NDIKUMANA, Minister of Public Health and the Fight Against AIDS, announced that 356 cases are currently under outpatient treatment. He declared that it has been found that most of the sick recover after seven days. He pointed out that during the back-to-school covid-19 screening campaign over 52,000 students and 3,000 teachers and supervisors working in these schools were screened.
“Of those cases, we found that there were roughly 2% of the positive cases. But fortunately, after this week, all the students were able to return to schools because they were put on treatment and cured. " - he added
New screening Initiative for Government officials
The Covid-19 National Monitoring committee found that most government officials and professionals are not responding overwhelmingly to the massive active screening campaign, it was announced that screening days will be organized specifically for government officials and other professionals.
“We have seen that the elderly people and intellectuals also do not respond massively to the screening campaign. We made an emergency order for more than 100 thousand rapid tests, which will also allow us to be able to serve schools as recommended by the President of the Republic. At the same time, we will continue to do voluntary screening as is currently done across the country ” Said the Minister of Health.
DRC border to reopen soon
The Covid-19 National Monitoring committee noted that there is a need for the Burundian and Congolese population to continue to go about doing cross-border business. Ways and means were analyzed in order to reopen the post-Gatumba border crossing. It was noted that preparations are needed such as building a new facility at the Gatumba cross-border but also the signing with DRC of a tripartite ordinance which is being prepared to specify the modalities.
The Minister of Health mentioned that during the Ebola outbreak, a study showed that about 10,000 Congolese enter Burundi through the Gatumba border every day. He said that there will be ministerial order to specify the contribution by businessmen who want to trade beyond borders. This will help Burundians but also Congolese to find a place to go to do business or day-to-day work as usual.
$17 Million for testing kits and drugs
The Covid-19 National Monitoring committee has also approved the plan to be submitted to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria an organization that promised $ 17million in financing. The minister of Health mentioned that the funds will be used to buy testing kits and drugs
Burundi Position on Corona vaccines
Dr. Thaddee Ndikumana, the Minister of Public Health emphasized the position of Burundi on Covid-19 vaccines.
In Burundi, we consider that the vaccines available now are still being tested. We are waiting for the vaccines to be approved by the WHO before the government intervenes. But for those who want to get vaccinated, such as those working for the UN, they have the right to go to another country, where vaccines are available" - Dr. Thaddee Ndikumana
Burundi has so far officially recorded 4,046 coronavirus cases with just six deaths since the first case was detected at the end of March last year.
Thanks for reading!
Fabrice Iranzi, Editor in Chief | RegionWeek.com
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