Building Healthy Communities

Burundi’s healthcare sector faces deeply rooted structural challenges, primarily driven by a highly rural population distribution. For millions of Burundians living on the hills (collines), functional healthcare facilities are either physically out of reach or severely lacking in essential medical supplies and adequate infrastructure.

To bridge this critical gap, ADRA Burundi has actively intervened to strengthen the country’s decentralized health system. Recognizing that human capital is the foundation of effective medical care, ADRA has targeted its efforts toward frontline capacity building through two key flagship initiatives:

• The Action for Social Change (ASC) Project: This initiative focuses on community-led transformation. By empowering existing local structures and community health networks, the ASC project builds technical capacity and fosters community conversations. This approach trains local leaders to identify health threats early, promote preventative hygiene practices, and improve local health literacy.

The GSK 20% Re-Investment Initiative: In direct collaboration with global health partners, this initiative reinvests resources specifically into training and upskilling frontline health workers. By equipping nurses, midwives, and community health actors with updated clinical skills, the project ensures that even remote dispensaries can deliver a reliable package of primary healthcare.