BUJUMBURA, May 2 (ABP) – The Prime Minister, Nestor Ntahontuye, received in audience, on Monday April 27, 2026, at the Ntare Rushatsi presidential palace, a delegation from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).
The Acting Director for priority countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe, Dr. Marthe Sylvie Essengue Elouma, who led the delegation, stated that their meeting was an opportunity to acknowledge Burundi’s achievements in vaccination since the beginning of its partnership with the GAVI Vaccine Alliance in 2001. She also specified that the meeting made it possible to congratulate the Burundian government for its accomplishments in terms of vaccination coverage, as well as for the efforts made to support this vaccination program.
A very important aspect was also to commend the government for its high-level commitment, illustrated in particular by the involvement of the Burundian First Lady, Angeline Ndayishimiye, who is very active in the field, as well as by community mobilization around vaccination.
Dr. Elouma further indicated that the meeting provided an opportunity for advocacy, encouraging the government to continue taking ownership of the vaccination program, particularly by increasing funding for the health sector in general and vaccination in particular, especially in the current context where external aid is decreasing.
For his part, the head of the communication office at the Prime Minister’s office, Joseph Manirafasha, stated that the Prime Minister positively appreciated the achievements of the GAVI Alliance, while recalling that the Burundian government has made significant efforts to promote the good health of the people.
Prime Minister Ntahontuye, for his part, emphasized that the promotion of good health constitutes the main pillar of the 2040-2060 vision, hence the importance of protecting children through various vaccines.