On Tuesday, June 19, 2018, in Matongo commune of Kayanza province, Founder of Buntu foundation of Burundi Denise Bucumi Nkurunziza officially launched the first edition of the week dedicated to mother-child health coupled with the 8th African week of vaccination. This national activity has been organized by the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS under the theme: “Vaccines do your part.”
In Burundi, Mother Child Health Week (MCHW) is organized twice a year to offer a package of high-impact interventions aimed at improving the health of mothers and children.
According to Founder of Buntu foundation of the country, there will be, during this week dedicated to Mother and Child Health, traditional interventions of Vitamin A supplementation for children from 6 to 59 months, deworming to albendazole for children from 1 to 14 years and pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy in the whole country. There will also be the second edition of the cervical cancer vaccine for girls who are 10 years old or who are in their third year of primary school in the health districts of Ngozi and Rumonge. Furthermore, there will be an anti-measles and rubella vaccines for children under two years old.
In her speech, Founder of Buntu foundation urged parents to use insecticide-treated mosquito nets to protect themselves against malaria.
Her Excellency Denise Nkurunziza appealed to all concerned to come and benefit from these services offered to them and parents to feed their children well with fruits and vegetables to fight against eye diseases.
She welcomed the government’s efforts in the health field because “sustainable development depends on a healthy of productive population”.
The Spouse of the Head of State finally thanked all partners of the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS for their commendable contribution. The ceremonies were closed by providing food assistance to 700 poor families. Each family received 10 kg from Founder of Buntu foundation.
