UPDATE ON HEALTH AND HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SUMMARY July 2005

1. General Context and Security 2.2. Some Rwandese refugees remained in the north of Burundi (Kirundo and Ngozi). The exact figures of 1.1.The Constitutional Court has definitely validated the these asylum seekers are not yet known. results of the legislative elections with the following figures: CNDD/FDD with 58.5%; FRODEBU with 2.3. The situation of displaced persons in sites has 21.69%; UPRONA with 7.20%; CNDD with 4.14%; MRC changed: 116.799 for 160 sites. with 2.13% and PARENA with 1.74%. The senatorial election was also validated. The application of Mr Peter Nkurunziza (president of the CNDD/FDD political party) 3. Health and epidemiological situation for the Presidential election was confirmed by the Constitutional Court. Therefore the newly elected 3.1. Cholera outbreak situation in : parliament members and senate members will participate in the election of the new President of Burundi A cholera outbreak was notified in the province of Cibitoke on August 19, 2005 according to the agenda prepared (45 km north ). From 27 June to 8 August 2005, a by the National Independent Election Commission. total number of 34 cases and one death were reported. These will the end of the transitional period with the Laboratory confirmed, this outbreak situation benefited from swearing in ceremony of the new President and his a very satisfactory health intervention (outbreak situation government on the August 29, 2005. under control) with the contribution of health partners in support to the provincial team: IRC and UNICEF for water 1.2.The FNL armed group (non signatory of Arusha distribution, ICRC hygiene and sanitation, MSF for drugs agreement) remained the only group which did not and medical equipment provision, WHO for the coordination participate to the electoral process in Burundi. of all health interventions during the outbreak. Negotiations that started with the transitional government did not reach any agreement and could 3.2. Sporadic cases of meningitis in : resume hopefully with the new elected government.

1.3.For the UN Staff in Burundi, the security Phase IV is Four sporadic cases of meningitis were reported in now prevailing in four provinces (Bujumbura Rural, Rutana province from 29 July to 5 August 2005. Cibitoke, Bubanza and Bururi). The remaining provinces Samples were taken for lab confirmation. Additional are in Phase III. The curfew prevails from 11 pm to 6 information will be available in the next report. am.

2. Humanitarian situation

Evolution des cas de choléra dans la province sanitaire de Cibitoke du 27/06 au 02/08/ 05.

2.1.According to UNHCR, as of July 30: 19,327 facilitated 4.5 and 995 spontaneous returnees living in Tanzania have 4

arrived in Burundi in 2005 with a total of 20,322 since the 3.5

beginning of 2005. It is observed that since the 3 organisation of the communal election, the number of 2.5 Cas repatriates from Tanzania has increased.During 2004, Décès

Effectifs 2 the total number of returnees was 90,245, with 83,849 facilitated and 6,396 spontaneous. 1.5 1

0.5

0

5 5 5 5 5 5 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 0 0 0 00 0 0 00 0 00 005 0 00 00 00 /2 /2 /2 /2 /2 /2 /2 /2 /2 /2 /2 /2 /2 /2 7 /06 /06 /07 /07 /07 /07 /07 /07 /07 /0 /07 /07 /07 /07 5 1 5 7 1 5 1 27 29 01/07/200503 0 07 09 1 13 1 1 19 2 23/07/20052 27/07/200529/07/20053 02/08/2005 Date

This document is not the official transmission of epidemiological data. This will be done through the normal channel. 1 The objective of the said meeting was to start activities of 4. WHO among partners the Group “Health and Development”, to exchange on strategic approaches to better tackle health as a condition 4.1. Photo Album was donated to the President of Burundi to for economic development of the country. Participants of witness the contribution of WHO on Health for Peace and the meeting were representative of UN Agencies, Development in Burundi during the period of 2003 to 2005 : representative of bilateral cooperation and some international NGOs. In the context of WHO contribution to the health for peace and development in Burundi during the year 2003 to 2005, a 4.5. Technical support mission of the WHO to the Ministry of photo album was donated to the President of Burundi with Health for the finalization of National Health Development the presence of the Minister of Health to witness with pictures Plan: the challenges and the achievement s in the health sector. The said album represented main events during the In the context of the preparation of the National Health transitional period where it was important to: (i) mobilise Development Plan for the next five years (2005-2010), WHO response to urgent humanitarian needs; (ii) provide Burundi provided its support with the presence of an international with the existing good opportunities at the global level in the consultant who helped national health authorities to finalize fight against malaria, HIV/AIDS, diseases of infant and the draft document produced on the Health Development maternal mortality; (iii) prepare actively the reconstruction Plan. The final document will be validated in the coming process confirming Peace as an immediate objective and weeks. Development as a perspective. The album was distributed to all major partners and is available (could be donated on request).

4.2. Official launching of the Reference system in :

In the context of setting up a referral system for emergency obstetrical cases in Makamba province the official ceremony for launching the said system was organised in Makamba province by the Minister of Health, the Resident Coordinator of UN System, WHO Representative and other Representatives of UN Agencies in Burundi. This system is already functional in Muyinga and Karuzi provinces. For Makamba the ceremony was marked by the donation of an ambulance by the WHO and completed with the installation of VHF Radio and solar panels installed in 20 health centers to facilitate communication and referral of emergency cases from peripheral level to Makamba hospital.

4.3. Evaluation of « Home Based Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS » implemented by the WHO:

In the context of the follow up of the project “Access to basic drugs for people living with HIV/AIDS” an external evaluation was organized by an international consultant. The main achievements of the project are the following: home Contact: based care has been provided to more than 10,000 people living with HIV/AIDS from 2003 to 2005, an important WHO-Burundi reduction of social exclusion and isolation of patients living Dr. Kossi A. AYIGAN with HIV/AIDS, a significant access to prophylactic treatment of opportunistic diseases. Recommendations from the Health Action in Crises evaluation are the following: rationalize the home based care Phone: (257) 231702 activities, decentralize the project activities, set up a better [email protected] coordination mechanism, and adapt the composition of the drugs kit.

4.4. Organization of the first meeting on « Health and Development » in Burundi:

A launching meeting of the Group “Health and Development was organized in the WHO Country Office on July 22, 2005.

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