WER steps up aid to Burundi as global economic crisis plunges the world’s poorest deeper into poverty

As the current economic climate continues to have a grave impact on the poorest communities around the world, WER is sending emergency relief supplies, including pharmaceuticals and dried foods, to rural HIV/AIDS clinics in Burundi.

This latest WER support to Burundi will be received by WER’s local partner organisation in Bujumbura, African Revival Ministries (ARM) Burundi, and will be distributed to rural health clinics and non-profit medical centres across the country.

The pharmaceutical supplies shipped by WER include oral rehydration salts, sterile gloves and Doctor Emergency Medical Packs (DEMPs). Each of these packs contains basic antibiotics, antiseptic and general medical supplies and provides treatments for up to 2,000 people.

Dr Aline Muryango, Director of ARM Burundi, expressed her thanks to WER for the quality goods being provided to the health clinics.

“The supplies provided by WER will have an enormous impact on the quality of healthcare that rural HIV/AIDS clinics and health centres are able to provide to patients. Basic supplies, such as sterile gloves, have almost entirely run out in a number of clinics across Burundi yet are an essential part of HIV/AIDS healthcare. Tens of thousands of people are set to benefit from this donation.”

The supplies were donated to WER by International Health Partners and Morningside Pharmaceuticals, in conjunction with International Relief Foundation.

Burundi has just 3 doctors for every 100,000 people and 1 in 5 children dies before the age of five. The UN estimates that almost 70 percent of Burundi’s 7 million people are undernourished and soaring food and fuel prices are plunging much of the population even deeper into poverty. As the country begins to recover after years of violent civil war, the return of tens of thousands of refugees from surrounding countries has put the economy of one of Africa’s most densely populated countries under additional strain.

WER has been working in partnership with ARM Burundi for the past 10 years. In addition to supporting ARM Burundi through the provision of quality goods such as pharmaceuticals, hospital equipment and general medical supplies, WER provides cash grants to fund long-term development programmes in Burundi, including education, HIV/AIDS care and counselling, agricultural training and care for orphans.