Burunga : a mosquito net shortage revives the malaria threat

SOS Médias Burundi

Burunga, January 19, 2026 — In Burunga province, southern Burundi, many residents say they have not yet received the insecticide-treated mosquito nets promised by health authorities. This situation, combined with a persistent shortage of antimalarial drugs, exposes the population to a worrying resurgence of malaria during the rainy season.

In several localities across the province, the prolonged lack of mosquito nets continues to worry communities. These items, considered an essential means of malaria prevention, have not yet reached all households, while mosquito proliferation intensifies with the rains. Residents fear a rapid deterioration of the health situation, particularly in rural areas.

On November 26, the Ministry of Health launched a nationwide campaign to distribute insecticide-treated mosquito nets, scheduled to last nearly a week. However, the operation was disrupted in several regions of the small east African nation. Distribution agents were supposed to register beneficiaries using tablets, but poor connectivity in some areas prevented real-time data synchronization, delaying or even halting distribution in several localities.

In underserved communities, suspicions are emerging that mosquito nets are being diverted to illicit markets. Some residents claim to have seen them for sale at exorbitant prices in neighboring Tanzania, fueling frustration and mistrust of the distribution system.

Meanwhile, the shortage of antimalarial drugs in several health centers and hospitals in the province is exacerbating the situation. Public health facilities, often on the front lines, are struggling to cope with the influx of patients. Due to a lack of available treatments, many patients are turning to private pharmacies, where the costs remain prohibitive for a large portion of the population.

This shortage of medication particularly affects children, pregnant women, and the elderly, who are considered the most vulnerable to malaria. Healthcare professionals are warning of major risks associated with this double shortage. Without prompt and appropriate care, the disease can progress to severe forms, leading to serious complications and even preventable deaths.

Some testimonies gathered in the field already mention losses of life that are not systematically documented, particularly in rural areas far from healthcare facilities.

Faced with this situation, residents are calling on the government and health sector partners to intervene urgently to ensure the fair and transparent distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, as well as a regular supply of essential medications. They are also denouncing unfair treatment between communities, with some having already benefited from the distribution campaign, while others remain excluded.

For their part, health officials in Burunga province acknowledge that some areas have not yet been covered, citing constraints related to the distribution mechanism. They assure, however, that the operation should resume soon and that measures are underway to bring distribution points closer to underserved localities and increase the availability of antimalarial drugs.

This situation comes as health authorities confirm a continued increase in malaria cases nationwide. Without complete coverage with insecticide-treated bed nets and a sufficient supply of medication, specialists warn that the risk of a worsening health crisis remains high.