World Relief Burundi: Child Survival

Wednesday, March 11: Child Survival Program

The challenges of children and women in Burundi are significant. The estimated infant mortality rate is 156 per 1,000 live births. Malaria accounts for almost half of child deaths nationwide and malnutrition is the second leading cause of death. Also, forty-one percent of rural children under five years of age are underweight and immunization coverage estimates vary widely.

World Relief is working with the Church, grass roots communities and government health services to tackle entrenched and complex problems of poverty that affect health. Through it's Child Survival Program (CSP), WR Burundi partners with the Ministry of Health to provide a Community-Integrated Management of Childhood Illness program in Gitega Province. Given the local name, Ramba Kibondo, which means Live Long Child, this program trains community health volunteers (Promoters) to go out and educate their neighbors with life-saving health messages. The simple lessons they provide save children’s lives—things like exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of life, sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito nets, improved sanitation and hand washing practices, drinking recommended liquids to prevent dehydration from diarrhea, and timely access to basic medicines for malaria and pneumonia. Pictured above is a Promoter being take by motorbike to visit with her community.

Care Groups of about 10 -12 Promoters meet together in weekly meetings to receiving training and share concerns and information gleaned from visits with families. Pastors and community leaders are also invited to attend these trainings to further extend the reach of important health lessons. One of the reasons for my trip was to work on a funding application to provide training to empower church leaders to to communicate health messages in a holistic manner to bolster the sustainability of the health change in the communities. I had the privilege of attending a Care Group, led by Gertrude, to meet some of the dedicated volunteers, many who had walked a hour or more with babies on their backs to attend. How encouraging it was to see the spirit of care and love demonstrated in their own group during the two hour session.