MUKAZA, Sept 30 (ABP) – The National Institute of Public Health (INSP) celebrated its 25th anniversary during an official event held from September 25 to 26, 2025. Founded in 1999, the INSP has gradually established itself as a strategic actor within Burundi’s health system, playing a key role in training health professionals, conducting applied scientific research, and offering reference diagnostics.
In his opening speech, the Permanent Secretary at the ministry of public health, Olivier Nijimbere, praised the institution, calling it a national and regional center of excellence. He highlighted the significant impact of the INSP on the development of public health in Burundi.
However, he acknowledged that many challenges remain, including the persistence of communicable and non-communicable diseases, growing threats linked to climate change, and antimicrobial resistance. To address these, he advocated for strengthening applied research, adopting technological innovations, and increasing regional cooperation.
The Director General of the INSP, Joseph Nyandwi, recalled that the Institute has played a crucial role in transforming the national health landscape by training a qualified workforce tailored to the needs of the health system. Over 25 years, he noted, the INSP has trained more than 1,800 graduates in various bachelor’s programs and about 70 professionals at the master’s level in public health.
It has also provided training in epidemiology, enabling the country to better respond to health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or Mpox. Additionally, the INSP launched a district surgery training program aimed at improving the provision of surgical care in district hospitals, notably through the specialization of general practitioners, anesthetic nurses, and resuscitators.
In terms of diagnostics and quality control, Nyandwi noted that the national reference laboratory is now capable of performing the majority of tests that were previously sent abroad. This progress marks a significant step toward diagnostic autonomy for the country, though dependence on imported reagents remains a challenge. The laboratory also ensures quality control of medicines, thereby reducing the circulation of falsified medical products on the market.
Among innovative initiatives, the director mentioned the analysis of medicinal plants, as part of an effort to promote traditional medicine and produce extracts with therapeutic potential.
Thanks to its research directorate, the institute has produced a wealth of evidence that has served as the foundation for several national health policies. These results have enabled the ministry of public health to make informed decisions.
The quality of the INSP’s work has earned it regional and continental recognition. The institution is accredited as a center of excellence for East Africa and was designated by Africa CDC, an agency of the African Union, as a regional center of excellence for central Africa, tasked with supporting countries in the sub-region in establishing their own national public health institutes.
Despite these advancements, the Director General mentioned several persistent challenges: an insufficient budget to cover all strategic ambitions, a shortage of personnel in both quantity and quality, a lack of advanced equipment, especially in the biosafety laboratory, and infrastructure that has become too limited due to the growing number of students and programs.
In conclusion, Nyandwi reaffirmed that the Institute’s main goal is to become a true pillar of the national health system, capable of performing all medical analyses locally, without having to send samples abroad.