Context
Burundi is one of most impoverished countries in the world where some 80% of the population lives on under $1 a day. Hunger and poverty are exacerbated by a lack of quality medical care. This is most acutely felt by Burundian women and children, with 1 in 23 women dying during pregnancy or childbirth, and about 1 in 20 children dying before their first birthday.
Burundi also faces an increase in diabetes, hypertension, stroke, chronic respiratory diseases, HIV, tetanus, malaria, measles, malnutrition, and so on.
Although the government has made efforts to improve health care services and there has been a downward trend in the mortality rate of young people, Burundi still ranks among the world’s least developed countries (185th place out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index in 2019), and over 70% of its population lives below the poverty line
Alexis Nizigiyimana
Alexis Nizigiyimana is one of eight children from a farming family in the rural area of Mugamba, Burundi, where access to health-care services for the local population of nearly 500,000 entails a 60 kilometre journey. Motivated by a health-related family tragedy, the then 8-year old Alexis vowed to do everything he could so that no other family would endure the same fate. With the support of his parents – who had never been to school – Alexis and his 7 siblings all graduated from university. With his medical degree in hand, the determined Alexis founded the Ubuntu Village of Life Medical Clinic in Mugamba.
This small clinic provides a wide range of health services including general medicine, pre- and post-natal services, ophthalmology, minor surgery, pediatrics and more. It is the only clinic in Mugamba with lab services, an ambulance and highly qualified healthcare personnel. It also has the only pharmacy in the region.
This small health clinic quickly realized that the demand was far greater than their capacity. Since opening, Ubuntu Village of Life has thousands of people from the area and beyond, including 4 neighbouring provinces and people who live closer to public hospitals but chose to come to them.
In 2022, Myriad Canada began working with Ubuntu Village of Life to renovate and equip a new building for the clinic, increasing their capacity to serve the local community. While the new clinic continues to be a great success, the needs continue to grow.
Goals
This project will improve the quality of and increase access to healthcare services for residents in Mugamba, Burundi at the Ubuntu Village of Life Clinic.
Activities
Activities will include:
- Upgrade the Ubuntu Village of Life Clinic;
- Build the capacity of the medical and support staff to provide services;
- Increase the capacity of the pharmacy;
- Increase access to quality healthcare in rural Mugamba;
- Etc.
Myriad Canada is working with Ubuntu Village of Life on this project, a non-profit that works to ensure that all people have access to the quality of health services they need when and where they need them and without financial hardship.
Myriad Canada’s role is to carry out charitable activities across the globe in accordance with its charitable purposes. We control and monitor the use of funds and the progress of charitable activities to ensure that donations made to Myriad Canada have the greatest impact in accordance with donors’ expressed wishes. As a member of the Myriad Alliance with offices in Canada, the US, Europe, Asia and Australia, Myriad Canada has a vast international network and extensive practical expertise.
How to support this project?
By credit card: At the top right of this page, indicate the amount you wish to donate, and make the donation online by credit card. You will receive a receipt for tax purposes by e-mail just a few minutes after making the donation. It is simple and fast!
By cheque: Mail the cheque to Myriad Canada, and mention ‘Project D312 – Medical Clinic in Burundi’ in the ‘For’ section and send it to: Myriad Canada, 1 Place Ville Marie, Suite 1670, Montreal, QC, H3B 2B6, Canada.
By Direct Deposit: Send an email to Mélina Zitiello melina@myriadcanada.org or call +1-438-300-8122.