Burundi Launches Ambitious HIV/AIDS Program

The Burundian government, in collaboration with the United Nations, has initiated a four-year program aimed at combating HIV/AIDS, valued at approximately 40 billion Burundi francs (around 14 million U.S. dollars), Xinhua reported yesterday.

Public Health and AIDS Control Minister Lyduine Baradahana announced the program’s launch, emphasizing its goal of achieving zero new HIV infections, zero HIV-related deaths, and eliminating discrimination and stigma associated with the disease by 2027.

The initiative will focus on five of Burundi’s 18 provinces: Muyinga, Makamba, Gitega, Kirundo, and the Municipality of Bujumbura. This program addresses the urgent need for health interventions, as HIV/AIDS, along with malaria and diabetes, ranks among the deadliest diseases in the country.