Photo of the week – Gitega : alcohol, a new scourge for women threatening family cohesion

In the province of Gitega, in central Burundi, a worrying phenomenon is growing : excessive alcohol consumption among women, including pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. This social scourge is weakening relationships, fueling domestic violence, and undermining the very foundations of the Burundian family.

In Masasu, in Gishora village, the situation is considered critical. Highly alcoholic beverages such as kicks, banana beer, and even artisanal brews called Bangala are now circulating among many women, some of them very young.

“We see mothers drinking while they are pregnant or breastfeeding,” laments Rita Bukuri, a local administration authority at the Masasu.
“This endangers the health of the mother, but also that of the child.”

Families tearing each other apart in silence

Générose Muzihano, a resident of the village, observes that this consumption leads to an increase in conflicts in the home.

“Many women indulge in it, and it destroys families. Some are humiliated, others beaten.”

Addiction gradually sets in, often in a context of poverty, exacerbating marital tensions. The vicious cycle is very real.

“Most of the conflicts we resolve today revolve around alcohol,” says Rita Bukuri.
“And it is mainly women who pay the price : violence, rejection, loss of family connections.”

An underestimated health and economic crisis

The health consequences are alarming : miscarriages, premature births, malnourished children… Local health facilities are sounding the alarm.

“We are seeing more and more cases of weakened children born to mothers addicted to alcohol,” confides a nurse from the region.

Economically, the purchase of alcohol deprives many families of basic necessities : food, healthcare, and schooling. Domestic productivity plummets with the days lost to drunkenness.

“Almost no night goes by without hearing a couple fighting. And the cause is alcohol,” says a resident of Gishora.

A social emergency that goes beyond Gitega

This phenomenon is not unique to Gishora. Similar cases have been reported in Bujumbura, Rumonge, Cibitoke, and more. Everywhere, the same cheap, unregulated drinks circulate freely.

Local authorities are calling for urgent measures : limiting access to artisanal alcohol, raising awareness, and providing support to women suffering from addiction.

Our photo : women and children in the town of Gishora, Gitega province, where the consumption of strong alcoholic beverages is on the rise.