PROJECT-SUPPORT BURUNDI

Foundation burundikids switzerland, Rheinfelden, Switzerland

Country / Place

Burundi, Bujumbura

Burundi is one of the smallest states in Africa. It borders Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. Most of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo lies in Lake Tanganyika. Gitega has been the capital of the east african state since January 2019. Bujumbura is located on the northern end of Lake Tanganyika and is the administrative and economic centre of the country. It was the capital of Burundi from its independence in 1962 until December 2018.

General

The aim of the burundikids foundation is to support projects in the fields of health care, education, and agriculture. To achieve this goal, it supports the CENTRE MEDICAL HIPPOCRATE hospital in Burundi in many ways.

The hospital "CENTRE MEDICAL HIPPOCRATE"

The hospital is located east of the city of Bujumbura and close to the Congolese border. The location was deliberately chosen because it is a poorer area. Patients from the Congo can also benefit from the hospital.

The success story began in 2009 with the construction of the hospital with a pharmacy, examination rooms, a ward block with 21 beds, sanitary facilities, kitchen, and laundry room. In 2011, the gynaecology and obstetrics units were added. In 2014, a further expansion was completed with the paediatric ward with 20 beds. The hospital is fully functional and equipped with its own pharmacy, an excellently equipped laboratory, an outpatient ward, a gynaecological centre, an operating theatre, sickrooms, and a paediatric ward. The technical equipment of the hospital is up to date and continuously adapted to meet current needs.

Beneficiaries

In Burundi, contrary to popular belief, there are no different peoples or ethnic groups, but one people with one language: the Rundi. They share the same Burundian customs and belong to the same social and political structures. 85% of the Rundi belong to the Hutu, who mainly practised agriculture. About 14% of the inhabitants belong to the Tutsi, who are mainly involved in cattle breeding, and the Twa (pygmies with 1% of the population), who make up the rest.

According to United Nations estimates, Burundi has 12 million inhabitants and is a very young population, about 50% are younger than 15 years. Population growth is very high, with each family having an average of six children.

Project-support

Current - Project Structural Extension

Due to the very positive development of the hospital, it has too little space. In addition, various state requirements have to be met and administrative regulations are to be observed. It is required that the administration and pharmacy be separate from the hospital itself and that an emergency room must be available. In order to meet these requirements, and for the urgently needed expansion of space, further major and sustainable development steps are planned.

In December 2021 the construction of the two-storey extension building started and was completed by the end of May 2022. The administration, accounting and pharmacy units were relocated to the new building, making room in the old building for the reception, waiting room, emergency room, offices, and additional patient rooms. Work continues with the remodelling of the patient kitchen and the construction of the new employee kitchen. Both will have a covered seating area.