Press Release: Nearly One Million Burundians to Benefit from 2007 NTD Control Initiative
September 12, 2007
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Goal of NTD Control Program:

To reduce the prevalence of schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis and trachoma to levels where they are no longer a threat to public health.

History of NTD Control in Burundi 

In the three pilot provinces, Bururi, Cibitoke and Bubanza, onchocerciasis treatment was started in 2003 and some schistosomiasis treatment took place until 2005.

Current Status:

• 10,000 volunteer community distributors in the 3 pilot provinces have been identified and trained in the treatment of the 5 diseases.
• Treatment for onchocerciasis began on August 9, 2007 in the Bururi Province. 

The Ceremony:

• When & Where: The event took place in Bururi Province, Rumonge municipality, Zone Buruhukiro, Gitwe hill on August 9th, 2007.
• Who Attended:
• Mrs. Rose Gahiru, Minister of Public Health
• The Provincial Governor
• Dr. Manzila, WHO Representative
• Parlementarians of the province of Bururi
• Directors of other National Programs and other ministry officials
  
• Local administration officials
• Marie-Alice from SCI
  
• Dr. Adrian Hopkins and Anita Smeets from CBM
  
• Directors and key staff of the Oncho and NTD national programs
• 56 community distributors from the area
• Roughly 2,000 villagers
• What Happened:
• Speeches were given by the local administrator, the governor, the WHO representative, Dr. Hopkins, and the Minister of Public Health.
  
• Focus of the speeches was on the integrated approach to fighting NTDs as a public health problem, and the important role of the community distributors as providers of free health care services to their own communities.
  
• A traditional Burundian drum band ('Les tambourins Burundais') and singers and dancers performed dances and sketches which demonstrated the diseases ( e.g. itching from onchocerciasis, stomach ache from STH), the MDA process and the positive effect of the medicines.
  
• Lyrics had been especially written to explain the reasons for the MDA.
  
• The guests of honor were invited to distribute the first tablets of Ivermectin to villagers who came prepared with patient cards which will list the annual date of distribution of the various medicines. 

Rose Gahiru, Minister of Public Health

Immediate Next steps:

• Distribute drugs targeting the populations of 3 pilot provinces: Bururi, Cibitoke and Bubanza, where the prevalence of schistosomiasis, STHs and onchocerciasis are well known to overlap.
• 2-3 weeks after the distribution of Ivermectin to fight onchocerciasis, the community distributors will distribute Praziquantel and Albendazole to the same members of their respective communities to fight schistosomiasis and STHs. 
  
• Concurrent mapping of LF and Trachoma is taking place in the same 3 provinces, so that the treatment of these two diseases can be integrated in next year's mass drug administration (MDA).

• June-September: Baseline study for schistosomiasis and STHs, mapping of LF and trachoma, MDA for treatment of onchocerciasis, schisosomiasis and STHs in 3 pilot provinces
• September-November: rapid mapping of diseases in the rest of the country
• December: planning of 2008 and 2009 activities based on mapping results (country-wide baseline studies and MDA).

Meet the Leadership

The integrated control program is in the hands of the Burundi Ministry of Public Health. Dr. Onesime Ndayisimiye, NTD program coordinator, and Dr. Norbert Birintaniya, Program coordinator for the National Plan for Onchocerciasis Prevention and their respective teams closely collaborate to ensure full coordination and co-implementation of nation-wide mobilization and education efforts and activities in the field. 

The lead organization will be the Bensheim, Germany-based international NGO, Christoffel-Blindenmission (CBM, Christian Blind Mission), under Rudolf Czikl, the director of the Central Africa Region. CBM has worked with Burundi's Ministry of Health in the treatment and control of onchocerciasis since 2003.

Professor Alan Fenwick and the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative are also providing technical assistance and support on the project. 

The Sponsor

Geneva Global is an international research company which provides donor advisory and research services.  Thanks to their $8.9 million grant towards controlling NTDs in Rwanda and Burundi, this research can be conducted.